Border re-demarcation stirs panic in Mzimba

People living near the Malawi-Zambia Border in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chindi in Mzimba are said to be living in fear due to a wrangle with their Zambian counterparts over border re-demarcation exercise.

The wrangle has also affected learning, as some chiefs allege that Zambians have destroyed Byembye Primary School which was initially in Malawi but is now in Zambia after the re-demarcation.

In an interview yesterday, Chindi confirmed that the school is now in Zambia.

“When the re-demarcation took place, our children were still going to Byembe and that did not please our Zambian counterparts who destroyed the school.

“As I am talking, our children are not going to school. They cannot even walk to the nearest school because it is far. We are stranded and we urgently need help, my people are living in fear” he lamented.

Chindi said the situation has been there for the past four months with no remedy.

During a public rally which President Peter Mutharika addressed at Mpherembe in Mzimba last week, Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V pleaded with government to intervene in the matter.

“Malawians and Zambians are one people, we don’t want squabbles. So, please government, help us in this matter,” he said.

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi said government was addressing the issue.

“Officials from the Ministry of Lands, the Department of Immigration, Malawi Police and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are making arrangements to meet with their Zambian counterparts. We hope the matter will soon be resolved,” he said.