Malawi Voice

Chief Resident Magistrate Paul Chiotcha has ordered Dutch national Wim Akster, who is facing charges of sodomising male students and workers, to take the stand today or risk having his bail revoked. Akster is expected to call 16 witnesses, including himself, in his defence. However, his lawyer Michael Goba Chipeta told the court that the accused would not testify today, and that two other defence witnesses would instead be heard first.

Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. George Chaponda, has sparked outrage after describing Ngoni people living in Mzimba as illegal immigrants during an interview with South African broadcaster eNCA. Chaponda made the remarks while responding to questions on migration and recent xenophobic attacks targeting Malawians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.

More than 7,000 Malawians displaced by recent anti-migrant attacks in South Africa remain stranded at Sherwood Hall in Durban as repatriation efforts struggle to keep pace with the growing humanitarian crisis. The affected Malawians, many of whom fled their homes after outbreaks of xenophobic violence, are living in overcrowded conditions while waiting for transport back home.