Such a bunch of ingrates!

Some people are simply born ingrates. They possess an astonishing ability to bite the very hand that feeds them and, when given the slightest opportunity, they reveal their true colours without shame or remorse. Gratitude costs absolutely nothing. It requires no wealth, no education and no special privilege. Yet it was the one thing glaringly absent from the disgraceful scenes that unfolded at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza on Monday. Instead of thanking those who worked tirelessly to bring them safely back home, some repatriated Malawians chose violence over patience and intimidation over dialogue. Their behaviour was shameful, indefensible and deserving of the strongest possible condemnation. No one disputes that the returnees had endured a long and exhausting journey. No one denies that waiting for transport allowances after days of travel would have been frustrating. Anyone in their position would have wished for the process to move faster. But frustration is not a licence for lawlessness. It is not a justification for vandalising property. It is certainly not an excuse for attacking humanitarian workers who were there solely to help. There is a dangerous mentality taking root in sections of our society. It is the belief that once assistance is being offered, those receiving it somehow acquire the right to dictate terms, issue threats and lash out whenever their expectations are not immediately met. That poisonous sense of entitlement is becoming all too common and it must be rejected. Damaging a Malawi Red Cross Society tent and injuring a humanitarian worker was not an emotional outburst. It was an act of criminality. There is no softer word for it. Humanitarian workers are not politicians seeking votes. They are not enemies. They are ordinary men and women who dedicate themselves to helping people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Assaulting them is both morally bankrupt and utterly unacceptable. Even more disturbing is the breathtaking ingratitude displayed by some of the returnees. These were not abandoned people left to fend for themselves. They benefited from a massive coordinated effort involving the governments of Malawi and South Africa, humanitarian organisations, immigration officials, health workers, security personnel and taxpayers whose money made the entire exercise possible. They were rescued from uncertainty, transported across borders, medically screened, given food and temporary shelter while arrangements were being made to help them reach their final destinations. How does one respond to such assistance with violence? How does one repay compassion by destroying the very facilities established to provide relief? The answer is simple. An inflated sense of entitlement eclipsed basic human decency. There is an uncomfortable truth that needs to be said. Assistance is not an entitlement. Humanitarian support is an act of compassion extended to people in difficult circumstances. It should be met with cooperation and appreciation, not demands and aggression. Those who believe aid workers exist to serve at their command have fundamentally misunderstood the relationship. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. Yes, every citizen deserves to be treated with dignity. Equally, every citizen has a duty to behave responsibly, respect public property and obey the law. One cannot demand respect while showing none in return. The destruction witnessed in Mwanza did more than damage tents and injure staff. It sent a deeply troubling message to the organisations and partners that continue to stand with Malawi during times of need. Why should humanitarian workers risk their safety if the people they are helping turn against them? Acts of violence committed under the cover of frustration cannot simply be excused because those involved were vulnerable. Most importantly, this shameful episode must not define all the returnees. Many behaved peacefully, waited patiently and cooperated with officials despite the delays. They understood that logistical challenges are inevitable in operations involving thousands of people. It would be unfair to tarnish everyone with the actions of an unruly minority. Still, the misconduct of that minority cannot be minimised or explained away. What happened at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium was an embarrassing display of ingratitude, entitlement and lawlessness. Malawi is a nation built on 'umunthu', a culture that values humility, respect and appreciation for those who extend a helping hand. The events in Mwanza stood in direct opposition to those values. If we normalise such behaviour or make excuses for it, we risk creating a society where generosity is punished, humanitarian workers become targets and gratitude becomes a forgotten virtue. That would be a tragedy far greater than any delay in receiving transport money

Times Malawi Times Malawi · Wire Report · 1 hours ago · 4 min read

Image via wire syndication · Times Malawi

WIRE — Some people are simply born ingrates. They possess an astonishing ability to bite the very hand that feeds them and, when given the slightest opportunity, they reveal their true colours without shame or remorse. Gratitude costs absolutely nothing. It requires no wealth, no education and no special privilege. Yet it was the one thing glaringly absent from the disgraceful scenes that unfolded at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza on Monday. Instead of thanking those who worked tirelessly to bring them safely back home, some repatriated Malawians chose violence over patience and intimidation over dialogue. Their behaviour was shameful, indefensible and deserving of the strongest possible condemnation. No one disputes that the returnees had endured a long and exhausting journey. No one denies that waiting for transport allowances after days of travel would have been frustrating. Anyone in their position would have wished for the process to move faster. But frustration is not a licence for lawlessness. It is not a justification for vandalising property. It is certainly not an excuse for attacking humanitarian workers who were there solely to help. There is a dangerous mentality taking root in sections of our society. It is the belief that once assistance is being offered, those receiving it somehow acquire the right to dictate terms, issue threats and lash out whenever their expectations are not immediately met. That poisonous sense of entitlement is becoming all too common and it must be rejected. Damaging a Malawi Red Cross Society tent and injuring a humanitarian worker was not an emotional outburst. It was an act of criminality. There is no softer word for it. Humanitarian workers are not politicians seeking votes. They are not enemies. They are ordinary men and women who dedicate themselves to helping people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Assaulting them is both morally bankrupt and utterly unacceptable. Even more disturbing is the breathtaking ingratitude displayed by some of the returnees. These were not abandoned people left to fend for themselves. They benefited from a massive coordinated effort involving the governments of Malawi and South Africa, humanitarian organisations, immigration officials, health workers, security personnel and taxpayers whose money made the entire exercise possible. They were rescued from uncertainty, transported across borders, medically screened, given food and temporary shelter while arrangements were being made to help them reach their final destinations. How does one respond to such assistance with violence? How does one repay compassion by destroying the very facilities established to provide relief? The answer is simple. An inflated sense of entitlement eclipsed basic human decency. There is an uncomfortable truth that needs to be said. Assistance is not an entitlement. Humanitarian support is an act of compassion extended to people in difficult circumstances. It should be met with cooperation and appreciation, not demands and aggression. Those who believe aid workers exist to serve at their command have fundamentally misunderstood the relationship. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. Yes, every citizen deserves to be treated with dignity. Equally, every citizen has a duty to behave responsibly, respect public property and obey the law. One cannot demand respect while showing none in return. The destruction witnessed in Mwanza did more than damage tents and injure staff. It sent a deeply troubling message to the organisations and partners that continue to stand with Malawi during times of need. Why should humanitarian workers risk their safety if the people they are helping turn against them? Acts of violence committed under the cover of frustration cannot simply be excused because those involved were vulnerable. Most importantly, this shameful episode must not define all the returnees. Many behaved peacefully, waited patiently and cooperated with officials despite the delays. They understood that logistical challenges are inevitable in operations involving thousands of people. It would be unfair to tarnish everyone with the actions of an unruly minority. Still, the misconduct of that minority cannot be minimised or explained away. What happened at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium was an embarrassing display of ingratitude, entitlement and lawlessness. Malawi is a nation built on 'umunthu', a culture that values humility, respect and appreciation for those who extend a helping hand. The events in Mwanza stood in direct opposition to those values. If we normalise such behaviour or make excuses for it, we risk creating a society where generosity is punished, humanitarian workers become targets and gratitude becomes a forgotten virtue. That would be a tragedy far greater than any delay in receiving transport money

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