The Malawi Freedom Movement (MAFREMO) was founded in 1977 in Dar es Salaam by Oron Chiewa a former cabinet minister in the government of President Kamuzu Banda (Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 175; Revolutionary and Dissident Movements 1991, 209). The aim of MAFREMO is to "restore democracy, justice and liberty in Malawi" (ibid. 209). For further information on MAFREMO's operations between 1977 and 1991, when it joined the United Front for Multi-Party Democracy (UFMD), and later when it joined the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) to contest the May 1994 multi-party elections in Malawi, please refer to the attachments.

According to Africa Contemporary Record, Edward Yapwantha Chirwa, the MAFREMO chairperson, and other members of the party were expelled from Tanzania in 1987 (1989, B615). The DIRB is unable to corroborate this information at the present time.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Africa Contemporary Record: 1988-89 Annual Survey and Documents. 1989. Marion E. Doro and Colin Legum. New York: Africana Publishing Company.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. The High, Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK.

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 1991. 3rd ed. London: Longman Group UK.

Attachments

Africa Confidential [London]. 3 June 1994.

_____. 6 May 1994. "Malawi: New Freedoms, Old Politicians."

Africa Contemporary Record: 1988-89 Annual Survey and Documents. 1992. Marion E. Doro and Colin Legum. New York: Africana Publishing Company, B585-91.

Africa Contemporary Record: 1987-88 Annual Survey and Documents. 1989. Marion E. Doro and Colin Legum. New York: Africana Publishing Company, B610-15.

The BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 8 June 1994. "Malawi Opposition Leader Criticises OAU for 'Ignoring Atrocities'." (NEXIS)

_____. 8 June 1994. "Exiled Malawian Parties to Meet and Form United Opposition to Banda." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 March 1992. "Malawi Opposition group in Exile Urges West to Press for Reform by Halting Aid." (NEXIS)

The Economist [London]. 27 May 1994. "Malawi: After Banda."

The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. 34th ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications, pp. 1837-38.

Inter Press Service. 20 May 1994. Gumisai Mutume. "Malawi-Elections: All Ends Well that Starts Well." (NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World: 1991. 1991. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, pp. 413-15.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. The High, Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK, pp. 172-76.

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 1991. 3rd ed. London: Longman Group UK, pp. 208-09.

West Africa [London]. 5 June 1994. Barbara Akakpo. "Malawi: Vote For Freedom."