AS MOZ UNREST ESCALATES: MALINDZA REFUGEE CENTRE NOW FULL

MALINDZA – The influx of Mozambican refugees into Eswatini has resulted in the overwhelming majority of them being without shelter at the Malindza Refugee Reception Centre.

By 4pm yesterday, many were found in groups outside the reception centre, having completed the registration process. The reception centre is reportedly now full.
Distressed and traumatised by the violence that engulfed their homes and businesses burnt to ashes, and the brutal gunfire they narrowly escaped, these refugees have undergone a gruelling journey to find safety.  Many crossed the Lomahasha Border Gate or entered through informal crossings, where they registered their names at the Lomahasha Police Station, before being transported to the centre by various vehicles from both Eswatini and Mozambique.

Commission

The violence in Mozambique has escalated since the electoral commission announced that the ruling FRELIMO party had retained power, with its candidate declared the winner of the presidency. FRELIMO has denied accusations of electoral fraud by the opposition, but the decision by Mozambique’s Constitutional Council to validate the election results this week sparked further protests. According to the monitoring group Plataforma Decide, the death toll has reached 125 since the court’s decision and 252 since late October. This violence has forced thousands of Mozambicans to flee to neighbouring countries, including Malawi, South Africa and Eswatini. It has been reported that in Malawi alone, more than 2 000 Mozambican families sought refuge this past week, as dozens were reportedly killed in the unrest over the disputed election results.

Decrease

A visit by this publication to the Lomahasha Border Gate revealed a decrease in activity, with fewer people travelling from the Mozambique side. An immigration officer shared that only a few Mozambicans with passports and vehicles had crossed through the formal border gate, while others entered through informal crossings. Refugees arriving via these crossings were transported in a convoy to the Malindza camp, where they registered first at the border and then at the police station, where their fingerprints were also taken. At the refugee centre, a long queue of refugees was seen waiting to be settled. Women, children, including infants and men of all ages stood in line, their faces etched with trauma and uncertainty.

The camp was scattered with luggage comprising of blankets, clothes and other belongings, abandoned in the rush to escape. Some women shared their grief, recounting how they had left behind their husbands and partners in the chaos of the violence. Young men, determined to stay strong, kept a watchful eye on their siblings.Meanwhile, the children, many of whom had witnessed gunshots and firebombs, appeared dazed and distant, their faces numb from the horrors they had witnessed.  However, some younger children seemed oblivious to their sudden loss of a stable home and future, playing joyfully as if nothing had changed.

A Rwandan businesswoman, who had owned shops in Mozambique, shared her ordeal. She, along with her six children, had not yet been allocated accommodation by 4:10pm. Despite the trauma of losing everything, she was determined to remain strong. “Everything happened so quick; we didn’t even have time to pack. We just grabbed what we could and fled. We had to come straight to Eswatini, and now we’re here,” she narrated.

Surprisingly, she said she did not feel traumatised. “I can’t afford to be traumatised. This has happened to so many people; I am not special. What’s important is survival right now,” she stated. Another family, also fleeing violence, arrived at the camp exhausted and anxious, hoping for shelter. With no space available, they were forced to camp outside one of the structures. The mother clung to her two young children, trying to comfort them despite the deep fear she felt. Her husband stood vigil, his gaze fixed on the camp authorities, praying for a miracle. She disclosed that in the midst of the chaos, they held onto a fragile hope that a place would soon be found for them.

An officer at the centre, when approached for an interview, referred this reporter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which she said is the relevant authority. In response, Mlandvo Dlamini, the Communications Officer at Home Affairs, stated that the Malindza Centre serves as a reception for refugees, rather than a refugee camp, as previously articulated by Minister Princess Lindiwe. Dlamini explained that the Ndzevane Refugee Camp is currently being prepared. He pointed out that this camp was originally established as a refugee camp many years ago.
He noted: “In a space of a week, it will be ready to accommodate about 200 refugees. This is an ongoing process, and we will endeavour to update you in a timely manner.”

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