The government’s repatriation exercise has exposed the true scale of Malawians who had flocked to South Africa, with over 21,000 already brought home, exceeding the planned target of 15,000, as thousands remain stranded and still waiting to return home.
The latest figures suggest that the number of Malawians who travelled to South Africa, many in search of better economic opportunities, may have been far higher than authorities had initially anticipated.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lilongwe, Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) Commissioner Wilson Moleni said the repatriation exercise has already surpassed its original target.
“We have beaten our previous targets. We had set out to repatriate 15,000 but we are well past that. We have now hit 21,000,” said Moleni.
He said the operation is progressing through a joint effort between the governments of Malawi and South Africa, with support from development partners, the private sector and individual Malawians.
Moleni said the South African government has provided buses to transport returnees, while local partners and private companies have contributed transport and other logistical assistance.
The commissioner said the repatriation exercise has so far cost about K7 billion.
He said the Malawi Government has contributed K5 billion, while development partners have provided K2 billion.
“Around K2 billion has come from our partners and K5 billion from the Malawi Government, making it a total of K7 billion that has been spent on the exercise to date,” he said.
Despite exceeding the initial repatriation target, Moleni said the exercise is continuing because thousands of Malawians remain stranded in South Africa and are still expected to be brought back home.
