MALAWI: REFUGEES ON HAPPNESS AFTER GOOD NEWS
Two years ago, in the country of MALAWI, located in southern Africa, there was a refugee exodus where the government used police and other agencies to sleep among refugees in urban areas, dehumanizing them and hunting them down like snake hunters. They were not afraid to approach families where women and men were sleeping and take them away naked. At that time, they were taken to MAHURA prison. This also led to the deprivation of citizenship of those who came as refugees and were later granted citizenship.
Infants were left in the cold in the prison yard, some of them became terminally ill. Some Rwandans were kidnapped and taken to Rwanda in violation of the law. Another serious matter was the seizure of refugees’ property and money. Some of those who used to buy crops at Kwa Ngona had their containers packed and taken to the police station. These acts of
violate basic human rights and were led by the ruling party (MCP) MALAWI CONGRESS PARTY. The refugees’ representatives appealed to the courts but to no avail until they appealed to the International Criminal Court. As this party has oppressed the refugees, the people of MALAWI have also been forced to live in difficult conditions. Food prices have skyrocketed, fuel for vehicles has run out…
After 5 years as stipulated by the laws of MALAWI, elections were held that left the MCP party led by President RAZARIUS CYAKWERA defeated. The elections were held on September 16, 2025.
The DPP party led by Prof. PETER MUTHALEKA won, returning to power after 5 years.
Both refugees and citizens are expecting positive changes in the governance of that country.
WHAT ABOUT REFUGEE BENEFITS?
In an interview with the Deputy Spokesperson of the Malawi Police Force, SUPERINTENDENT ARFRED CHIMTHERE, INTAMBWE greeted him in English and he greeted him in Kinyarwanda very nicely, saying, “How are you?” The newspaper asked him about the illegal possessions of refugees, mostly containers filled with years… if they were still at the police headquarters, and he replied, “Yes, those containers are still there.”
The Step newspaper asked him if they planned to return the properties to their owners and he replied: “Yes, we are looking for a way to do it in a safe and secure manner so that they can be returned to their owners.” This was the first time since the refugees were disturbed and their properties were confiscated that the police administration had said anything about it.
What do refugee representatives say?
In a brief interview with the spokesperson of the refugee committee in Malawi, Mr. BANTUBINO REOPORD, the newspaper explained to him what the spokesperson of the Malawi police had announced. We asked him what the refugees had to say about it. He replied: That would be very good. There is a lot we are doing that we are not talking about in the media. We have also done a lot. So if the police said that there are things they want to do to help the refugees, that is very good. We will continue to monitor how it will be done.
The Step newspaper also tried to speak to Mr. INNOCENT MIGAMBI, a human rights activist who is often seen in refugee advocacy activities and is the head of the Human Rights Organization (INUA). He did not answer his mobile phone. We sent him a text message, but he responded late, saying he was in a meeting.
The Step newspaper will continue to follow this news.
Written by: Obed Ndahayo (son of a priest)