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(NYASATIMES) Watchdog urges govt to utilize Malawians in Diaspora

Watchdog urges govt to utilize Malawians in Diaspora
By Nyasa Times
Published: November 4, 2009

The Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has appealed to Malawi government to utilize and recognize its citizens living in Diaspora and has proposed to the government to create a Ministry responsible for Malawians living in Diaspora.

CHRR said in a statement emailed to Nyasa Times that the ministry should cater for the welfare and needs of Malawian sons and daughters in Diaspora such as professional opportunities, business investments and granting their right to participating governance through elections.

The body said that it welcomes the initiative of government to register all Malawian in Diaspora in a directory of “who is who”.

“We at CHRR feel that this campaign is a good one but has not been given the much publicity it deserves. As a nation, we stand to benefit from this initiative only if it is known to people it is targeting. It is important people living aboard know much about this initiative and let alone what its objectives are,” said the statement issued by Undule Mwakasungura, CHRR head.

The organisation also pointed out that it appreciate the initiative put in place by government more especially through the Ministry of Health to see to it that health professionals are retained by way of introducing good and motivating incentives.

CHRR noted that Malawians living abroad have teamed up to form a grouping called Malawian Initiative for National Development (MIND) with an aim of helping government in reducing brain drain by way of supporting government efforts in reducing poverty and enhancing sustainable economic growth by aligning their programs with the Malawi Growth Development Strategy ( MGDS).

“We at CHRR feel that the WHO is WHO Initiative and the MIND have a very common agenda and we are therefore proposing to government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Human Resource Management and Development to find a common working ground and create synergies tracking all Malawians living abroad so that whenever we need their expertise their information should be available,” said the rights group.

“As a nation we need to create a conducive environment to motivate these Malawian professional living abroad. Government need to come up with incentives to motivate highly qualified Malawians abroad so as to tap on from their rare expertise.”

The statement added: “We also view that in this digital era government need s to use the cyber space to reach far and wide in publicizing this good move for all Malawians in Diaspora to be informed and participate in the project.”

The rights group therefore urged Malawians aboard to be patriot and invest back home. The organization said it is aware that so many are already doing so through investments in many ways; buying or construction of buildings, transportation, and farming.

CHRR said that according to human development report many Malawians abroad send money to their relations back home which add a difference to the day to day life of their relations.

“Besides, recent findings by the International Monetary Fund (2009) indicate that remittances by Diaspora citizens globally contribute far more than international aid by more than double i.e. $230 billion remittances compared with just $106 billion from aid,” said the statement

In another research done by Watipaso Mkandawire, a Malawian Economist working with the Commonwealth in London entitled “Investing in Malawi – Diaspora Perspective” (2009) his findings revealed that that Malawians living in the United Kingdom in total remit back to Malawi between £300 and £10,000 per year, totaling £21 million or MK6 billion, CHRR noted.

“This is so encouraging and as a nation we need to appreciate the contribution of the Diaspora in socio economic development,” said the body.

CHRR also pointed out that calling upon government to put in place deliberate policies that can help to retain professionals in Malawi.

“Government knows better how expensive it is to train a single graduate who in the end not contribute to and serve the nation. It does not add up to let them go and contribute to the economies of other nations.

“Much as we understand that Malawians living in abroad contribute a considerable amount of money to the national economy we at CHRR feel that Malawi can benefit more if these Malawians remain in the country,” said the body.

Labels: CHHR, DIASPORA

posted by MrK @ 1:07 AM