KARONGA-(MaraviPost)—A group of some business community, members of clergy and farmers in Karonga have called government through the Ministry of Home Affairs to continue with its decision of relocating the Dzaleka refugees camp from Dowa to Katili area in the district.
The development comes after another group known as Karonga-Chitipa heritage rubbished the decision saying the district should not be a dumping area for criminals.
Karonga-Chitipa heritage also feared that most of the local businesses and land will be occupied by these refugees while accusing government for coming up with a concluded decision without proper consultation.
“We are not going to allow this project. This is because of security reasons and lack of proper consultation,” said the district coordinator for Karonga-Chitipa heritage Steven Simsokwe.
However, their opponent under the banner of the Forum for Peaceful Refugees Camping and Integration in Malawi (FPRCIM) said Karonga-Chitipa heritage lack knowledge on the important of having the refugee camp in the area hence call upon government to sensitize them.
Speaking during the press conference on Monday, the group leader Wise Kayira said as much as they are concerned with the developmental condition of Katili area and the goodness of the refugee camp, they will not allow their brothers and sisters miss this opportunity.
“The coming of refugee camp at Katili will automatically develop the area. This is what the Karonga-Chitipa heritage lacks,” said Kayira.
“The refugees camp will bring a tarmac road, water, electricity and social services of international standards such as school as well as hospital in just mentioning a few,” he added.
On the issue of security as feared by the Karonga-Chitipa heritage, FPRCIM leader said the country already have enough and tightened security.
They also asked the Karonga-Chitipa heritage group to remember that most of the district’s residents were refugees in Tanzania during the one party era.
“A real Karonga resident cannot be against this development especially when looking from where we are coming. Our parents were also refugees in Tanzania and they were welcomed. So it will be unfair for us to block our colleagues,” they said.
The group has also conducted massive sensitisation campaign at the Katili area using its resources.
Reacting to the development, Simsokwe said the group has its constitutional right but asked its members to be patriotic to their own district and not sell their people and land because of money.
He said his group will not allow such development to be carried out in their district and that it will use any means to block the idea.
Meanwhile, government will take some of the residents to Uganda and Dzaleka refugee camp to appreciate the important of having the camp in the area.
About 28 thousands refugees are in plan to be relocated to Katili area in Karonga from Dowa district, according to government.
Comments
3 responses to “New group in Karonga supports relocation of Dzaleka refugee camp, accuses its counterpart of lacking knowledge”
My brothers from Karonga, pliz dont be cheated that constructing a refugee camp in Karonga will bring development there. The issue of development is a non starter. Am one the gov employees and what you brothers in Karonga should know is the gov of is simply taking criminals from Dzaleka in Dowa to Karonga. As Mwathengere said, look at the people of Dowa they are quiet because they are happy with the decision of removing the refugee camp to Karonga.
The coming of a refugee camp in Dowa brought alot of danger to the area . Alot people were murder in Dowa than before.So brothers in Karonga expect criminal activities to rise because this stupid camp you are being told. If some of you have been given money to be supporting the idea blindly one day you will be shocked as these criminals coming to Karonga. Have you ever Chakwera commeting on the issue, why because he knows how his cronies have suffer .So pliz Karonga people wake up or else you will regret one day. Irest my case.
Great and Sober Comments from the learned Fred MWATHENGERE, PhD. If most of our dialogue was like this Malawi would benefit.
Fellow citizens of Karonga, let us ponder over this matter with a sober mind. Neither of us might have the right answer but we can together find a shared solution.
Admittedly, the above articles raises more questions than answers. For instance, is it true that refugees bring development to an area? Can someone show me an area where development occurred as a results of refugee influx, per se? If it is true that areas that host refugees develop, why is it that are our fellow Malawians around Dzeleka are quiet? Wouldn’t they have been screaming against government decision to move the same away from their precinct? I don’t hear any voices from Dowa. And if the assertion that most of the people in the Karonga-Chitipa Heritage were themselves refugees somewhere else, should we not benefit from their experiences.
I pray for a sober discussion on this very critical issue for Karonga. I personally opine that Government should indeed sensitise us all before moving the 28,000 human beings from Dzeleka to Katili. Let us not rush.
Colleagues, I avail myself of this opportunity to wish you all a safe and exuberant festive season.
Stay blessed!!