Update on Prophet Shepherd Bushiri's Repatriation Buses
We have successfully secured a number of buses to assist with the voluntary repatriation of fellow Malawians currently in South Africa.
While our initial plan was to focus our efforts within Gauteng Province, we received a request from the Malawi Consulate in Johannesburg to deploy some of the buses to Pietermaritzburg, where there is an urgent need to assist Malawians wishing to return home.
I am pleased to report that several buses have already departed Johannesburg and have been assigned to support this urgent operation in Pietermaritzburg.
We remain deeply grateful to the Government of Malawi, particularly the Malawi Consulate in Johannesburg, whose support, coordination, and commitment have been instrumental in making this exercise possible.
In addition to the transport arrangements, we have also engaged medical personnel and procured various medical and first aid equipment to support our fellow Malawians both in the temporary camps and throughout their journey home.
Our commitment goes beyond simply helping them return to Malawi; we are equally committed to ensuring that they return home in good health and are provided with the care and support they may require along the way.
Our desire is to increase the number of buses available for this operation and assist as many people as possible. However, our biggest challenge remains the settlement of payments to transport operators, largely due to foreign exchange constraints.
We will continue engaging financial institutions and other stakeholders to explore possible solutions that will enable us to make timely payments and secure additional buses.
To all those who have stood with our fellow Malawians during this difficult period, we thank you. As our brothers and sisters return home, we will continue to welcome them with open arms and support them in every way we can.
Together, we can ensure that no Malawian is left behind.