HRDC tips government on refugees relocation

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has asked President Lazarus Chakwera to take seriously a plea by a Rwandan law firm on the planned relocation of refugees.

The Democratic Republic of Congo based Rwandan law firm Judicial Studies Office has written President Chakwera to intervene and protect the Rwandan refugees as well as their assets as Malawi plans to force refugees back into Dzaleka camp.

Speaking to YFM, one of the HRDC leaders, Reverend MacDonald Sembereka, said before any action is taken on the refugees, government must carefully look into the treaty agreements that were signed.

Reverend Sembereka said: “We advise the president to ensure that government is following all human rights obligations in cotonou agreement concerning the refugees which among others ensures that the lives of the refugees are not at risk.”

He said failure to comply with such obligations will not only be an act of human rights violation but also tarnish the image of the country.

On the process of sending all refugees residing outside designated Dzaleka refugee camp back to the camp, Sembereka said government is doing things within the parameters of the law however he said the authorities can further do better.

“Suffice to say that government is operating within the parameters of the law however we think more things have been left unattended for a long time perhaps government is pushing things way too much,” he said.

Government’s exercise to relocate all the refugees back to Dzaleka camp has been delayed following a court injunction which was served on April 28 to stop the exercise.