The Department of Immigration last year suspended processing of dual citizenship applications following allegations of fraud. We have uncovered one method which officials at the department have been using to process the papers
In January 2022, Malawi started processing dual citizenships following the passing of the bill by Parliament in December 2018 and assenting to the bill by the President in March 2019 and the gazetting of the operationalization of the regulations in November 2021.
In October 2023, the Department of Immigration reported that it had processed about 200 dual citizenships.
Now, we have established that some of those citizenships that it processed used forged endorsements of two cabinet ministers – Jean Sendeza and Ken Zikhale Ng’oma.
In a cabinet reshuffle by President Lazarus Chakwera in February 2023, Zikhale Ng’oma took over as Minister of Homeland Security from Sendeza who was redeployed to the Ministry of Gender.
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Interestingly, one of such certificates we have found, dated 19 October 2023, bears the signature of Sendeza, over the name of Zikhale Ng’oma. In other words, that signature should belong to Zikhale who is featured as the approving authority. In truth, it is Sendeza’s.
According to a certificate No. 1M/HA/ DU/R/0389/2023, File Number D/C 0389, the Department of Immigration certified Mahomed Taugfiq Kasmani, born in Malawi but with British citizenship, that he was registered as a dual Malawian citizen under Section 6(5) of the Malawi Citizenship Act.
In addition, Zikhale’s name is not given in full on the certificate. It only reads ‘Hon Zikhale Ng’oma’.
When asked for comment on their signatures on the certificate, both Sendeza and Zikhale described this as a forgery.
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“That document is definitely a forgery. My name is not written like that, and my signature is not like that,” Zikhale Ng’oma said.
According to Zikhale Ng’oma, an extensive audit is imperative to address these challenges.
“We are committed to preventing fraud, and I ordered the audit to ensure transparency before issuing citizenships,” he added.
The audit is already underway.
Sendeza too denied that she signed the certificate.
“I am shocked that government officials would misuse my name on such sensitive documents. Those responsible should be thoroughly investigated and held accountable,” Sendeza said.
Last year, amid fears of underhand dealings within the citizenships section, Zikhale NG’oma called for a detailed audit and issuance of the citizenships was suspended.
The Office of the Auditor General has been conducting the investigation, focusing on citizenship approvals and associated revenues.
Zikhale said he anticipates a thorough audit and eventually the resumption of services.
“Our goal is to ensure all revenue from citizenship processing is properly accounted for, rather than misappropriated by unscrupulous immigration officers and their accomplices,” he said.
Executive Director for Transparency Initiative Malawi, Nicholas Mwisama, said the revelations are an indication of an elaborate syndicate of individuals who have been defrauding the government through dubious issuance of the certificates.
“Forgery is a criminal offence in Malawi. Everyone involved must clear themselves before the law. This also offers another test for the implementation of the rule of law without discrimination.
“What we are seeing means there is a sophisticated syndicate in the Department of Immigration which is perpetrating forgery and fraudulent activities,” he said.
According to Mwisama, in general the Department of Immigration requires radical reforms because it is always in the news headlines for the wrong reasons.
“What is happening there is a breach of the trust of Malawians,” he said.
In Malawi, dual citizenship is the status whereby a person is concurrently regarded as a citizen of two countries. Only Malawians by birth or by descent are eligible to acquire dual citizenship. Persons who were naturalised, registered, or conferred the citizenship of Malawi are not eligible for Malawi dual citizenship.
Citizenship issues in Malawi are governed by the 1966 Citizenship Act of the Laws of Malawi. The 1966 law permitted Malawians under the age of 22 to maintain dual citizenship. However, it limits persons of full age and capacity to be dual citizens.
