The Malawi government has assured Malawians fleeing xenophobic violence in South Africa that they are safe once they are home.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, George Chaponda made the assurance on Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre indicating that the government will protect the returners.
“You are safe, protected and free,” said Chaponda.
He further encouraged them to rebuild their lives freely using skills acquired while working in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Wilson Moleni, indicated that 2,218 Malawians returned home while 514 are in transit and about 15,000 are still in South Africa waiting for repatriation.
The returnees have since held the government accountable for its efforts to rescue them from the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Meanwhile, President Arthur Peter Mutharika who is currently in the Republic of South Africa for a private visit held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the repatriation of about 10,000 Malawians in South Africa.
