By: Lloyd M’bwana
The Republic of South Africa (RSA)’s, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Luwellyn Landers has assured Malawians who worked in that country’s mines and xenophobia attack victims that the rainbow nation will decisively compensate them.
The assurance comes following the end of the two day 3rd Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) between Malawi and RSA which was slated for April 6-7 in the capital Lilongwe which among others aimed at enhancing and deepening diplomatic ties in the areas of social-economic development, defense and security.
A two day conference came barely a year after xenophobia whereby over 2,000 Africans including Malawians were brutally attacked in RSA over insufficient of resources including job and business opportunities. Not only about 36,000 ex-miners are fighting for their dues since 2002 which until now the battle for the claims has been facing numerous challenges including proper identification of ex-miners who are now deceased.
In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post on Thursday, April 07, in the capital Lilongwe after successfully hosted the joint summit, Landers, RSA’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation hinted that his government has put drastic measure that those who were behind xenophobia attacks were taken to book consequently victims be compensated accordingly.
Landers went further assuring ex-miners that all procedures are taken that those who worked in mines including their relatives should get dues according to international standards of compensations.
“The joint conference is leeway for the continue mutual understanding between Malawi and RSA in areas of defence, security, technology, information sharing among other such that its outcome might not be seen today but years to come as there’s a lot to map the way forward.
“Let me take this opportunity to assure Malawians who suffered due to xenophobia attack by misguided individuals that all measures are put in place to control the re-occurrence of the same. Our government is very committed to compensate the victims through thorough claims for easy processing of their dues.
“Even those worked in mines in 1980s, 1990’s, advanced processes are underway to compensate them decisively through vigorous names identification as most of the are now deceased but will make sure that their relatives get the money according to international laws of justice and industrial relations”, assures Landers.
Echoing on the same, George Chaponda the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation who is now heading Ministry of Agriculture expressed gratitude that the conference achieved its intended purpose saying the two nations’ diplomatic ties were tightened for more cooperation.
“The meeting has established the holding of Mid-term reviews annually by two ministries of foreign affairs at senior levels not only that but also made progress on the Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on economic cooperation and tourism which will both be assigned at the earliest possible opportunity”, delighted Chaponda.
The two day 3rd summit was mesmerized with a cocktail which diplomats and delegates from two nation relaxed with sizzling dance, drinks braai among others.
Malawi and South Africa governments established Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) in 2007 aimed at fostering and consolidating bilateral cooperation between brotherly countries with two meetings held since its inception in Blantyre and Pretoria in 2008 and 2012 respectively.
The two countries had even gone further establishing Joint Defence Committee (JDC) in 2008 which is expected to be expanded to include security cooperation to cover areas of immigration, cross border crime, drugs and human trafficking.
