A selected group of Rwandese immigrants in Malawi is accused of forcefully collecting funds from refugees amounting to 12 million kwacha for covid-19 response in Rwanda.

According to some of the refugees who asked for anonymity, from March this year, a group led by businesspersons Gentille Giramata and Sad Karegeya were moving door to door collecting the funds from other businessmen and small-scale refugees.

This has not gone down well with some refugees who argue that the aim is suspicious as they are also facing numerous challenges in Malawi due to the disease.

President of Rwandese Diaspora committee in Malawi collecting the funds, Vincent Ndamange, confirmed to have mobilized over 12 million kwacha to help people in Rwanda fight COVID 19 pandemic.

However, he claimed that the funds were only mobilized from Rwandese business people and not refugees.

"We started collecting the money three months ago after noting that people in Rwanda are affected by Coronavirus and we have managed to raise over 12 million kwacha,” Ndamange said.

The covid-19 response funds have been mobilised in districts such as Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, Mangochi, and Dzaleka.

Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa hosts over 40,000 refugees and so far there are three COVID-19 confirmed cases in the camp.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the group continues to force some refugees to contribute towards Covid 19 fight back in Rwanda.