Maputo, 28 Feb (AIM) – The rise in the level of the Shire River, on the boundary between Mozambique and Malawi, has forced the postponement of the repatriation of over 7,000 people who fled to Malawi as a result of the post-election tension in Mozambique.
The repatriation of these refugees had been scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday. However, when the action was about to start, torrential rains began to fall, causing a sharp rise in the Shire River, making it impossible for boats to cross from the Malawian side to the Mozambican bank.
The refugees are from the districts of Morrumbala and Milange, in the central province of Zambézia, and from Mutarara and Dôa districts, in the neighboring province of Tete. They had fled into Malawi to escape the unrest following the announcement of results from the 9 October general elections widely believed to be fraudulent.
According to Mozambican Interior Minister Paulo Chachine, who was speaking to households, in the Nhamithuthu refugee camp in Malawi, safety conditions are already in place to start the repatriation mission, but as a result of the rising level of the Shire, it will be postponed to a date yet to be announced.
“Now, my brothers, the time has come for us to return home”, said Chachine, cited by Radio Mozambique. “The conditions have already been created, as you have been informed. You were supposed to start returning this Thursday, but when we checked the river here, the level seemed high. The return will resume when the authorities see that security is reestablished”.
(AIM)
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