By Rebecca Chimjeka Matemba & Innocent Kalikokha:
Over 2,000 Mozambicans have fled into Malawi following post-presidential election unrest in the neighbouring country.
However, Commissioner for Refugees, General Ignacio Maulana, said the influx of the refugees from Mozambique to Malawi has not taken the department by surprise as it was anticipated.
“All agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Programme and Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), among others, are on alert [and know] what is happening,” Maulana said.
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District Commissioner (DC) for Nsanje Dominic Mwandira said more Mozambicans were expected to enter Malawi.
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“The refugees are currently sheltering in traditional authorities (TAs) Mlolo, Tengani, and Mbenje in Nsanje District.
“What is challenging is [the availability of] food and other essential items to support these households. There is a need for urgent food distribution in the areas,” Mwandira said.
He said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services was registering each and every household that has entered the country.
Mwandira also said the Dodma teams were on the ground, registering the arrivals to ensure that they get timely relief assistance.
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According to the DC, all the households entering the country are from Mbala District.
The Daily Times has established that officials have set a camp at Chikonje Primary School, TA Mlolo; Tengani Evacuation Centre; Chazuka Community-based Child Care Centre; Nyamithuthu Primary School, TA Tengani; and Phokera, which is under TA Mbenje.
On his part, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Charles Kalemba said preparations were underway to provide food and essential supplies to the displaced families.
“Efforts are ongoing to assess the needs of the affected families and provide them with adequate support,” Kalemba said.
On Tuesday, Mozambique’s Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda announced that at least 21 people had been killed since Monday.
“Two police officers were among the dead and the authorities have made 71 arrests in connection with the violence,” Ronda said.
The political unrest in Mozambique comes as that country is working to recover from Cyclone Chido which, according to the country’s National Institute for Natural Disasters, has culminated in the death of 120 people.
The storm made landfall in the country more than a week ago.
In Malawi, it killed 13 people.
The conflict in Mozambique has also affected Malawi’s fuel import route.
On December 10, the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) disclosed that the problem of fuel scarcity being experienced in the country had been exacerbated by demonstrations that were happening in Mozambique.
Mozambique has been under protests following discontent from some quarters with results of an October presidential election in which ruling Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo was declared the winner.
This, according to Nocma spokesperson Raymond Kambale, has affected the supply of petroleum products to the country.
“Currently, we are relying on one route, the Tanzania route.
“We are, however, managing the situation,” Likambale said at the time.
