The Malawi Defence Force (MDF) is keeping 17 people, including Pakistani nationals who were arrested last year during an operation to remove refugees, and it has remained stuck with them.
The Investigator Magazine has been near the guardroom at Kamuzu Barracks and a house near a tuckshop- where an Asian lady with a baby is also being kept. Still, authorities have remained mum as to why the 17 can’t be deported or sent back to their countries of origin.
On Wednesday, 17 July, MDF went to the Dzaleka Refugee camp and arrested 220 nationals, mainly from East African conflict zones of DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Ethiopia. They were kept at Maula prison before being shipped to Karonga on Friday for repatriation to their respective nations.
“The MDF has no cells, and military police have been used to guard them. Nobody can explain what these people are doing here,” said an official familiar with the matter.
The 17 were among those arrested and touted to be criminals wanted elsewhere and allegations are that their colleagues that were repatriated to Rwanda could not be traced and likely would have been killed on arrival.
“The MDF role in refugees is hazy. The excuse that they are being recruited in Cabo Delegado is not legit. Cabo Delegado issue is religious, and Rwanda has its troupes there. Malawi was refused by the Mozambican authorities not to join in the war as it is a suspect.
“Instead, MDF joined the DRC war and is fighting against M23 rebels said to be supported by Rwanda. So, it doesn’t add up that Rwanda will be recruiting rebels in Malawi to fight them in Mozambique. The MDF owes Malawians an explanation,” said a military expert with one of the international bodies.
MDF soldiers laughed off The Investigator Magazine team, joking that the visitors “were expensive to maintain as they don’t eat nsima” and the MDF must provide them with an appropriate diet.
“They have been here for a year. So, either someone is being paid, or these guys are paying someone to remain here. Nobody can tell. They should be the responsibility of Immigration, not the Army. We deal with external conflict, not immigration,” challenged an officer.
MDF Commander Valentino Phiri told the press on 18th July 2024, announced the operation and confirmed holding the 17 but did not say if there are plans to ship them out of the country.