By Mbono Mdluli
MPAKA – Acting Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has expressed hope for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political unrest in Mozambique.
Speaking today, Friday, January 10, 2025, during her visit to the Malindza Refugee Camp in Mpaka, Dladla aimed to assess the conditions of refugees who fled Mozambique due to the unrest. She expressed optimism that the situation would soon improve, enabling the refugees to return to a normal life.
Dladla empathized with the refugees, acknowledging the challenges of living in exile and the inability to live freely. While she sympathized with their plight, she remained hopeful that the situation would normalize soon. The acting prime minister found solace in the fact that the unrest in Mozambique had not escalated into a full-scale war, suggesting that a resolution might be attainable in the near future.
She also noted that Mozambique’s President-elect, Daniel Chapo, was set to be sworn in on January 15. Dladla expressed optimism that his inauguration could mark a turning point for the country, which had been on a path to economic recovery before the political turmoil. She further mentioned that the unrest appeared to be concentrated in Maputo, rather than spreading to other regions.
At the Malindza Refugee Camp, Estate Manager Bongekile Mamba reported that the camp currently housed 1,071 refugees across 323 households. Surprisingly, the majority of these households were not of Mozambican origin. Only three households were Mozambican, while most refugees hailed from countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia.
Mamba explained that 50% of the refugees were unwilling to return to Mozambique, 25% expressed a desire to return, and the remaining 25% were undecided. She also highlighted challenges with food supplies, noting that provisions were often insufficient. For instance, on Christmas Day, the camp could only provide beans as the main meal to feed the 1,000 residents.
Mamba expressed gratitude to the Eswatini Catholic Church for donating food, which had allowed the camp to diversify its meals. She praised the refugees for their good behavior and willingness to work, describing them as cooperative and non-problematic.
