Neno, August 6, 2015: people from the area of Senior Chief Symon in Neno district have expressed weariness over refugees that coming from Mozambique to a camp at Luwani.
Village Headman Lembani told Malawi News Agency on Tuesday that the last group of that was accommodated at the camp some years back, terrorized the area with armed robberies and illegal deals.
He said at that time local people lived in fear as they were afraid of the attacks by the refugees.
“The last group from Mozambique that was here gave us so much trouble, we lived in fear as if we are not in our motherland. We had our property stolen by these people and some of our relatives were murdered.
“We are now concerned that the same scenario might come again if they are let free. They should not be allowed to move around anyhow,” said the local leader.
Senior Chief Symon shared the fears of his junior and proposed that the refugees be given a radius that they can cover so that their movement can be checked.
Camp , Hilary Namakhwa said refugee policies somehow do not allow refugees to be held like in prison but he however said a country’s laws are superior.
He added that the concerns of the locals will be reported to the superiors at Home Affairs and Internal Security ministry.
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has acquired 3.5 hectors of land where the refugees will construct small houses.
About 70 Mozambicans from 14 families most of them children arrived on Tuesday evening at Luwani camp fleeing the unrest in their homeland.
Other refugees are being kept in Mwanza district.
