Mozambique agrees to move back refugees – Malawi Press

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Mozambique agrees to move back refugees – Malawi Press

3:58 CAT | 26 Apr 2016

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Times of Zambia / (From left to right) / President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, president of Malawi Peter Mutharika and president of Zambia Edgar Lungu, in Lilongwe, Malawi, on April 25 2016

After discussing for over three hours on Monday the presidents of Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique agreed that officials from three countries should assess the actual number of Mozambican refugees that are being hosted in Malawi.

The assessment, they agreed, would be the first step towards repatriating the Mozambican. The three presidents said there is need to handle the issue of the refugees with a sober mind to ensure they are helped accordingly.

Mozambique President Filipe Nyuse told reporters after the closed door meeting: “My government will consider taking back all the refugees soon after the assessment.”

This is the first time Mr. Nyuse has openly spoken about the conflict in his country.

Close to 10, 000 Mozambicans have fled into southern parts of Malawi following renewed fighting between government forces and the opposition RENAMO.

However, the asylum seekers have not received any official assistance as Mozambique has not officially declared outbreak of war in the country to prompt provision of aid from international aid organizations and the United Nations.

Hundreds of Mozambicans have been trekking into Malawi from the province of Tete since July last year after RENAMO refused to accept the results of elections held in late 2014 that saw the Frelimo party returning to power.

RENAMO is fighting for control of Mozambique’s central and northern provinces.

The Shire Zambezi Waterway

On the issue of the long awaited Nsanje World Inland Port, the three presidents agreed to continue holding talks to make sure that they agree on a common goal.

“Let me emphasize that I would want to see better transportation in these three countries by using the Shire Zambezi Waterway,” said President Nyuse.

The port project was frustrated after Mozambique refused to allow a budge en route to Malawi to sail from the neighboring country as part of the symbolic launch in 2010 after being angered it Malawi had gone ahead with launch before some technical and environmental issues were agreed upon.

It sparked a minor diplomatic row after Maputo authorities arrested Malawi’s military attaché, Colonel James Kalipinde, over the matter. He was let free shortly after it was leant he was a diplomat.

As a way of making sure that people in these three countries are not dying of hunger, the three leaders have agreed to share resources.

“There is need to for us to continue strengthening our international relationship and let us share what we have so that our people do not die of hunger,” said Zambian President Edgar Lungu.

Malawi President Peter Mutharika pointed out that his government will import over 1.2 million tonnes of maize to fill the current 30 percent maize deficit.

The three leaders met in the Malawi capital Lilongwe on Monday.

Source: Zodiak Malawi Online