Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda has called on the South African government to ensure the safe and dignified return of Malawians who wish to leave voluntarily amid increasing attacks on foreign nationals.
Chaponda made the request on Friday when he met South Africa's High Commissioner to Malawi, Mvivi Maikayaka-Manzini, in Lilongwe.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation yesterday said the Malawi government is concerned by recent violence in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg.
After the meeting. I am Lloyd Chitsulo
During the meeting, Chaponda asked Mayakayaka-Manzini what measures the South African government was taking to protect foreign nationals and to prosecute vigilante groups, including those associated with Operation Dudula. Operation Dudula is an anti-immigrant movement aimed at removing undocumented foreigners from South Africa.
Chaponda was quoted in the ministry statement as saying that many South African citizens operate businesses in Malawi with full protection from the law and the country's security agencies. He expressed regret that the situation in South Africa had forced Malawi to activate emergency repatriation plans for an initial 600 civilians and to make arrangements for the dead and survivors of a fatal accident in Zimbabwe who were fleeing attacks.
According to the statement, Maikayaka‑Manzini said the South African government has deployed police to attack hotspots to provide security and expressed hope that the perpetrators will be prosecuted.
“Her Excellency Maviwe Maikayaka-Manzini underlined that the Government of the Republic of South Africa is making every possible effort to ensure through diplomatic channels that repatriation is only voluntary and does not affect those who are legally in South Africa,” the statement said.
Maikayaka‑Manzini also expressed gratitude for the long-standing relations between South Africa and Malawi and stressed that the development partnership between the two countries remains important.
Recent attacks have strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and several African countries. Ghana and Nigeria wrote to the African Union this week to discuss the issue and offer to repatriate their citizens. Kenya, Zimbabwe and Lesotho have also issued safety notices to their citizens in South Africa.
Thousands of South Africans have protested across the country in recent weeks demanding the immediate deportation of illegal immigrants who they accuse of taking jobs. The protests led to the closure of some shops, especially those owned by foreigners or employing foreign workers.