Malawians made refugees

The future of over 173 Malawians who are living at a camp in Sub-Traditional Authority Nthunduwala in Kasungu is not clear as there is still no place allocated to them to settle and farm.

The villagers have been living at the camp for about five years and have lost their livelihood as they rely only on government aid.

In September 2012, the people fled to Zambia after police razed down their houses and destroyed their crops for encroaching on Kasungu National Park, but were repatriated home a month later following discussions between Malawi and Zambia.

Chairperson of the Malawians at the camp Archangel Bonongwe said they have nowhere to go after estates were closed.

“We were born in the estates and when they stopped operating, we had nowhere to go since we didn’t even know where our parents came from.

“We settled in Kasungu National Park in 2011, but we were chased and we decided to go to Zambia where we were received and settled there. But Malawi Government came to pick us and put us here at the camp,” said Bonongwe.

He told Malawi News Agency that they were told they would stay there for only a month, but the promise turned out to be untrue.

Bonongwe said their children cannot go to school and have turned the tents they got into blankets while relying on food aid.

Kasungu district lands officer Lincy Nyoni said land was identified for the villagers but has not yet been bought.

“There is about 172 hectares that has been identified for the people at the camp. I have seen a letter from the headquarters [Ministry of Lands] which is talking about the said land but the problem is who is supposed to pay for the land,” said Nyoni.

Meanwhile, member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu West Alex Meja is handling the matter as per Kasungu council meeting agreement. n