Refugees Seek Court Order To Stop Govt Relocating Them

The High Court has suspended a decision by government to relocate all refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka Refugee Camp.

Government, through the Ministry of Homeland Security reached to a conclusion that all refugees and asylum seekers who are staying in residential areas should relocate to Dzaleka refugee Camp by April, 28, 2021.

Minister responsible for internal security Richard Chimwendo Banda had also warned that government would employ force if those concerned did not comply.

According to Chimwendo Banda, the decision to have refugees and asylum seekers moved to Dzaleka Refugee Camp was made to a service security concern.

The move by government attracted mixed reactions which was later followed by the refugees to seek court intervention and obtained an injunction against the move by government.

Government has also been asked to look into the matter with keen interest before making a hasty decision.

The injunctions are to pave way for judicial review of the decision by government.

This follows an application for stay of the relocation process and judicial review by Abdul Nahimana who is representing a group of refugees and asylum seekers in the country.

Meanwhile, Richard Chimwendo Banda has said government will respect the court decision and says the exercise is now suspended.

Government had initially ordered all refugees and asylum seekers to relocate to refugee camps until 28th April 2021.

Homeland Security Ministry says it is banking on the Attorney General’s direction for their next action on the relocation of refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka Camp in Dowa.

However, the Ministry’s spokesperson Andrew Nyondo says they are yet to receive the injunction.