The Small-Scale Business Operators Association has vowed to strongly oppose a proposal seeking to allow refugees to settle in local communities and engage in business activities as well as formal employment in Malawi.

The association’s position follows a recent consultative meeting convened by the Special Law Commission with various stakeholders.

The meeting was aimed at discussing a proposed motion that would require Members of Parliament to debate possible amendments to laws governing refugees currently residing in the country.

Speaking to YFM Online, the association’s Secretary General, Tennyson Mulimbula, warned that granting such rights to refugees could pose serious security risks and threaten the livelihoods of Malawians.

He said the move could result in local citizens losing businesses and jobs they depend on for survival.

Mulimbula further argued that the proposed legal changes could create unfair competition between Malawians and refugees, potentially undermining the growth and sustainability of small-scale businesses across the country.

The review of the refugee law comes in the wake of the United States’ decision to reduce funding for refugee support programmes.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), working through the Special Law Commission, has since sought the views of Malawians, with the matter now awaiting debate in Parliament.

However, Mulimbula criticised the consultation process, describing it as inadequate and claiming that many key stakeholders, particularly small-scale business operators, were not sufficiently consulted.