The ministry of home affairs in Swaziland has beefed up security at the Malindza Refugee Camp following an incident that left a Five-year-old Rwandese boy dead.
Eric Tuyishimire was burnt to death on Saturday morning after an alleged attack by unknown people.
Principal Secretary Anthony Masilela said yesterday that following this tragic incident, the ministry was already in the process of adding security at the camp, which is initially meant to be a reception centre for refugees.
“The ministry would like to send its sincere condolences to the Tuyishimire family and all refugees in the country for the death of Eric Tuyishimire, who succumbed to death after multiple fire burns on his body on the November 22, 2014. We are currently awaiting the investigators’ conclusions on the incident and we would like to appeal to anyone who may have information that could help investigators as they carry out their duties to contact the nearest police station or refugee camp manager. We would like to assure the public that such information would be treated with the highest confidentiality it deserves.
“We would like to assure the nation and all concerned that the ministry is currently working on beefing up security within the reception centre and we are hopeful that all those affected by the rehabilitation of the centre would be tolerant of the process and the inconvenience it will come with,” he said.
This newspaper reported yesterday that the child died after a tent that was occupied by his mother and six children was allegedly set alight by unknown people. Most of the refugees are accommodated in tents following renovations which are being effected by the ministry of home affairs on the houses.
Masilela was asked by representatives of the media on the alleged attacks that were said to have occurred prior to the latest attack.
Contractor to speed up construction process
Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Anthony Masilela says the contractor that is currently renovating the Mpaka Refugee Camp will speed up the process.
He said initially the construction was meant to be completed by end the of next March next year”, but following the security issues that have been raised, it could be sooner.
“The contractor was supposed to complete this project by March but they have since promised that by Christmas we would be seeing a difference. It may not mean that they will be done then, but there will be progress,” he said.
The rehabilitation of the centre started about three months ago and the refugees have been staying in the tents since then. Meanwhile, the PS also revealed that there possibilities that the five-year-old boy could be buried in the country were very high.
He said it was not out of the ordinary that after an asylum seeker had attained the status of being a refugee in any country they got buried in that country when they died. He said this was because they had undergone the necessary process to prove that they are indeed refugees.
Masilela said the Acts being used stated that one could not then be connected back home to the countries which they had evaded, as they could have done so for different reasons.
“Usually, before the decisions of burial and logistics are made, the ministry of home affairs representing the government of Swaziland, the UNHCR, and the implementing partner as well as the family members of the deceased chart a way forward and decide what was the best option as there are a number of other factors to consider such as the different cultures,” he added.
{{Swazi Observer}}
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