Chiefs from karonga district, who visited Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa on Sunday, said they vehemently refuse to allow the government to relocate the camp to their district. The Chiefs said the project is not a good one.
The chiefs who were led by Group Village Headman Mwangolera, described Dzaleka refugee camp as a deserted area.
They wondered why the camp is still in a dilapidated state while it has been there for over 20 years.
According to them, if the camp will make Karonga developed why does the Govetnment not start with the Dowa-based Dzaleka refugee camp.
The chiefs also accused a team that visited the Dzaleka refugee camp from Karonga earlier, that it deceived the camp residents by saying that the camp has numerous development projects.
“They told us that Dzaleka refugee camp has good and modern structures, but what we have seen here, is beyond our expectations. We shall not allow this to be in our district,” the chiefs said.
In his remarks, MP for Karonga central constituency Frank Tum’pale Mwenifumbo, who supported the chiefs with money from his pocket said “I believe that the residents will know the truth.”
He said some people thought that he had his own agenda when he voiced opposition to the relocation of the refugee camp.
“Remember that I promised to take some community representatives to Dzaleka refugee camp during the consultation, and I will continue doing this until the truth is known,” Mwenifumbo said.
Mwenifumbo also took the chiefs to tour the new Parliament building and other development projects in Lilongwe.
Chairperson for Karonga-Chitipa heritage, Alfred Mwambira disclosed that his organization is still in the process to get a court injunction against the relocation of the refugee camp to Karonga.
