The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has disowned a letter making rounds on various social media platforms purporting that it has requested government to fast track processes of reintegrating foreign nationals plying businesses in the country’s townships to Dzaleka Refugees Camp in Dowa District. 

CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa has told a news conference in Lilongwe that the fake letter has been authored by ill-minded people aiming at tarnishing CDEDI’s image.

Namiwa added that he has reported the matter to Malawi Police Service and that the law enforcing agency has assured him that it will probe the matter.

“CDEDI is advising the general public to kindly ignore this misguided communication, which we strongly believe is the work of some criminal minds that have ulterior intentions of taking the law into their own hands, to inflict harm on innocent people that are carrying out their businesses in some parts of the country.

“Let the members of the general public be informed that CDEDI, has lodged an official complaint with the Malawi Police Service (MPS), at the Lilongwe Police station, in Area 3, and we are happy to report even further, that investigations have already commenced to flush out these criminals,” said Namiwa.

Recently, CDEDI embarked on a project to lobby the Malawi Government, through the National Assembly, to review the 1989 Refugees Act, which it says it is very archaic.

CDEDI further asked the lawmakers to consider drafting laws to allow the integration of the refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi, including the improvement of their welfare at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district.

Namiwa has since challenged Malawians to desist from making pronouncements and displaying some conduct that would incite hatred and anger towards some sectors of the society, including the refugees and asylum seekers, to start living in fear.