The Malawi victims of the ongoing Xenophobia violence in the republic of South Africa keeps on rising so does the costs to repatriate them back home.
From K30 million as a cost of ferrying citizens escaping violence, the figure rose to more than double last week and now has gone to K195 million.
First six buses for Malawians who freely accepted to come back escaping the ongoing attacks have been expected to arrive in the afternoon in Blantyre at Kwacha Social Welfare Centre and are totaling 390.
Malawi government says K195 million is now the cost of hiring of the busses to ferry its citizens from South Africa.
Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Hon. Kondwani Nankhumwa revealed this morning in Lilongwe at a press briefing that there are now 3,200 Malawi victims and two confirmed deaths but the number may continue to rise.
Nankhumwa says the buses, which have a seating capacity of 65 each, cost an average of R100, 000 per bus but approximately 50 buses are needed which translates into R5 million or MK195 million.
“We are currently estimating K195 million for the hiring of the buses and the figures will continue to rise but we have the money in place” he said
“So far we are talking of the figure 3,200 even more who have been affected and two death have been confirmed of Malawians and one of them was already laid to rest on Wednesday”
“Day by day we continue to discover that there are more Malawians for example we had a figure of 90 then went up to 120 then 1000 so as we are speaking now is 3,200 which means this is necessitating the rise again in the economic cost of it”
The Minister has since identified one of the deceased person as Adam Kaunga from Chilipa in Mangochi district and was laid to rest on Wednesday, but Government is yet to establish identity of the other body that is still is still at the mortuary.
He added that another one person was seriously injured and is in a Plaster of Paris (POP). He is too afraid to seek medical attention while expressing Government deepest sympathy and condolences to families of the deceased.
According to the government plan, the returnees who are to arrive in Blantyre will be separated with those coming from other regions being ferried to their regions of origin as per their choice.
Meanwhile, Hon Nankhumwa has confirmed that Malawian foreign minister will be meeting South African counterpart later this week but Secretary for Foreign Affairs is already in South Africa to discuss with his counterpart on the agenda to be discussed when the two ministers meet.
As some angry Malawians are to hold anti-Xenophobia demonstrations in the capital, Lilongwe this Tuesday where a petition is to be delivered to South African Ambassador, the Minister has asked the demonstrators to exercise caution and conduct their protests in “free and fair” manner without attaching any form of violence to it.
“We maintain Malawi is a peace loving nation, we undertake freedom of association, freedom of expression which is there and freedom of demonstration which is there. We don’t intend to block anyone from doing this, they are exercising their rights.” He said
The Government Spokesperson has assured peace and security for all foreigner’s and their businesses whether of South Africans or others.
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