The Malawi government says it needs more than K1 billion to repatriate over 3,000 Malawians stranded in South Africa following ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi made the announcement on Tuesday during a welcome ceremony for 150 returnees at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Saidi said the government has already deployed buses to South Africa and will continue sending more vehicles until every Malawian wishing to return is brought home safely.
He said the returnees will also benefit from government loan programmes currently being rolled out across Malawi’s 229 constituencies to help them rebuild their lives and start businesses.
According to Saidi, the support is aimed at ensuring those forced to flee South Africa can become economically self-reliant instead of struggling after returning home.
The first group of 150 Malawians left South Africa on Saturday and arrived in Malawi on Monday. On Tuesday, they underwent health screening at Kamuzu Stadium as they waited to be transported to their respective home districts.
The repatriation exercise comes as xenophobic attacks continue to force many foreign nationals to abandon their jobs, businesses and homes in South Africa, prompting the Malawi government to step up efforts to bring its citizens back safely.
Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi made the announcement on Tuesday during a welcome ceremony for 150 returnees at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Saidi said the government has already deployed buses to South Africa and will continue sending more vehicles until every Malawian wishing to return is brought home safely.
He said the returnees will also benefit from government loan programmes currently being rolled out across Malawi’s 229 constituencies to help them rebuild their lives and start businesses.
According to Saidi, the support is aimed at ensuring those forced to flee South Africa can become economically self-reliant instead of struggling after returning home.
The first group of 150 Malawians left South Africa on Saturday and arrived in Malawi on Monday. On Tuesday, they underwent health screening at Kamuzu Stadium as they waited to be transported to their respective home districts.
The repatriation exercise comes as xenophobic attacks continue to force many foreign nationals to abandon their jobs, businesses and homes in South Africa, prompting the Malawi government to step up efforts to bring its citizens back safely.
