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"We have to pray as Malawians. Those of us that believe depend on a God who opens doors when one is closed," she told the BBC.

The South African military said nine of its soldiers died helping to push back a rebel advance on the city of Goma, in eastern DR Congo, while three Malawians and a Uruguayan were also killed.

She was born in Welkom, in Free State province, to a Malawian father and a Zulu mother.

At first the agent angrily told the family that Blessings was dead, but this was not true and she finally returned last October, with the help of the Malawian government.

Last November, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera suspended all international travel for himself and his ministers, and ordered all those abroad to return due to the economic problems the country was facing.