Rights activist Imran Jumbe has called on the South African government to compensate Malawians who were forced to flee the country following repeated incidents of xenophobic violence, saying victims deserve justice for the losses and suffering they endured.
Jumbe has also urged all affected Malawians to unite for a peaceful demonstration on 30 July, where they plan to present a memorandum to the South African High Commissioner while calling on the Malawi Government to take decisive diplomatic action.
In a statement, Jumbe said thousands of Malawians suffered severe hardships after being forced to leave South Africa, including the loss of employment, businesses, homes, personal belongings and other valuable property.
“We respectfully urge the Government of Malawi to engage the Government of South Africa in seeking justice and fair compensation for all Malawians affected by xenophobic violence and related abuses,” he said.
Jumbe argued that compensation should extend beyond financial losses to include victims who were assaulted, tortured and subjected to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment during the attacks.
He further said families who lost relatives in xenophobic violence should also receive justice, recognition and appropriate compensation.
According to Jumbe, a person’s immigration status should never be used to justify human rights violations.
“Being an undocumented immigrant does not take away a person’s fundamental human rights. No one’s immigration status is a justification for harassment, assault, torture or unlawful killing. Every human being deserves dignity, humanity and respect,” he said.
Jumbe has appealed to the Malawi Government to use diplomatic channels to protect its citizens, pursue justice for victims and engage South Africa in discussions aimed at securing compensation through peaceful and lawful means.
He stressed that the planned action should remain peaceful, saying Malawians must reject violence while standing together in pursuit of justice and accountability.
“As Malawians, our response should reflect our commitment to justice, peace and the rule of law,” he said.
The planned demonstration seeks to bring together Malawians who were displaced by xenophobic attacks to collectively demand justice while urging both governments to address the long-standing concerns of affected citizens.
Jumbe concluded his message with a call for unity, saying Malawians should stand together in solidarity to protect the dignity, rights and welfare of every citizen affected by xenophobic violence.
