Malawi turns back 844 illegal immigrants
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has disclosed that between January and April 2023, it has managed to apprehend and turn back 844 illegal immigrants.
National Public Relations Officer for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, Wellington Chiponde, said that the majority of those apprehended were from the Horn of Africa.
He has since emphasised that the Department of Immigration is determined to curb the influx of irregular immigrants through the deployment of approaches that address the threat being posed by irregular migration.
“We are geared to curb the proliferation of irregular immigrants in our country, including those who opt to use our country as a transit corridor enroute to other Southern African countries,” he said.
According to Chiponde, the Immigration Department is determined to ensure a robust and resilient migration management system that enhances national security, safeguard employment for Malawians and promote socio-economic development of the country.
But Chiponde bemoaned the tendency of locals in aiding and abetting illegal entry of foreign nationals into the country.
He warned perpetrators that the law will take its course on anyone found doing the malpractice.
“We are aware that irregular migration is perpetrated by some unpatriotic citizens and residents who are enticed to aid and abet illegal entry of foreign nationals into our country.
“Our officers are working around the clock to combat this vice and we would like to stress that the law will not spare anyone found doing such despicable acts,” he warned.
Security commentator at the University of Mzuzu Aubrey Kabisala said the number of people that have been sent back shows how porous Malawi’s borders are.
“The number of people that have been returned in four months is too much. That is enough to organise a crime if they wanted to,” he said.
He however said the fact that the security agencies were able to apprehend them also demonstrates their ability to curb the influx of illegal immigrants.
This week in Rumphi, the Malawi Police arrested 51 Ethiopians who have been since been convicted and are awaiting deportation.
A report of the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, says Malawi has become a transit route for foreigners being trafficked to countries like South Africa.
The UN agency says on average it registers between 200 and 400 asylum seekers coming into the country every month.
The discovery last year of 30 corpses of illegal immigrants in Mzimba after a suspected human trafficking case highlighted the growing number of foreigners, especially Ethiopians, entering Malawi.
