Small Scale Business Operators Association has strongly condemned organisations and individuals who are against government’s decision to repatriate all illegal refugees and asylum seekers back to Dzaleka refugee camp.
Through a press statement released on April 25, 2023, and signed by its general secretary, Tennyson Mulimbula, the Association has described sentiments by those opposing the repatriation process as uncalled for, senseless and primitive saying are not concerned with the rights to education, food, social amenities, security and national development of indigenous Malawians which are at risk due to the influx of the asylum seekers and the refugees.
The statement has mentioned residents from Mgona area in Lilongwe and the grouping calling themselves Concerned Citizens of Malawi, who are requesting the government of Malawi to stop the repatriation process.
According to the small-scale business operators, the remarks by those who are against the government’s decision, clearly indicate that Malawians need to be civic educated about responsibilities of bona fide citizens.
Reads part of the statement: “A good citizen safeguards the resources and the sovereignty of a country. On this note, we would like to request the government to put in place policies deliberately aimed at empowering its people psychologically and economically. Malawi is not for sale.”
“Therefore, the people of Mgona and the so-called concerned citizens are kindly requested to stop depending on meagre income which they gain from illegal refugees and asylum seekers.”
The statement has further claimed that recently the country has experienced an increase of criminal occurrences which are being perpetrated by illegal refugees and asylum seekers such as possession of dangerous unlicensed weapons, production of fake local currency and importation of prohibited drugs, just to mention but a few.
On Monday, residents of Mgona in Lilongwe asked government to stop repatriation of the refugees and asylum seekers on grounds that the foreign nationals are providing employment to the locals.
And on Sunday, people calling themselves concerned citizens of Malawi addressed the media in Blantyre where among others highlighted that the repatriation process is an infringement of human rights.
Last week, Homeland Security Minister Ken Zikhale Ngoma warned that security agents will dump refugees who have defied the government order to relocate to Dzaleka refugee camp at the nearest border posts.
