MPS Demands Immediate Return of Refugees to Dzaleka Camp
Malawi Police Service warns refugees to return to Dzaleka Camp, writes Winston Mwale.
LILONGWE, Malawi — The Malawi Police Service (MPS) on Sunday issued a stern warning to refugees who have left Dzaleka Refugee Camp and returned to cities and towns, demanding their immediate return, writes Winston Mwale.
The MPS has cautioned Malawians that it is a crime to harbour these refugees and that anyone found doing so will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The refugees' act of returning to cities and towns is a clear disregard of the country's laws and open defiance to legitimate authority, which should not be tolerated,” said Senior Superintendent Peter Kalaya, the Service Public Relations Officer.
“Malawians are reminded that this country is built on a solid foundation of respect for the rule of law, and refugees are expected to abide by the laws of the country.”
The MPS has said that the operation of relocating refugees is still ongoing across the country and that the police officers will use the necessary force to ensure that the refugees return to the camp and never come back.
The Dzaleka Refugee Camp is located in the central Malawi district of Dowa.
It is the largest refugee camp in Malawi, and it currently houses over 50,000 refugees from Mozambique, Burundi, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The MPS's statement comes amid growing concerns about the security of the refugees in Malawi.
The MPS has said that it is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all refugees in Malawi and that it will not tolerate any criminal activity by refugees.
Dear Winston, this article is missing some important information. Please include the capacity of the camp, the number of people in the camp is well over capacity.
Please also interview @iuna to get more details about the whole situation - I’ve just tagged you on a Facebook post.