By Cathy Maulidi:
The Malawi Police Service (MPS), in conjunction with Ministry of Homeland Security officials, has set August 28 as the day it will open and search 125 containers that were confiscated during the time refugees were being relocated to Dzaleka camp in Dowa District.
Law enforcers confiscated the containers at Mgona Market in Lilongwe’s Area 25.
In a statement, MPS spokesperson Peter Kalaya says this will be done after the courts gave direction on how the confiscated containers should be disposed of.
The courts gave their direction on the issue on July 12 this year.
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Kalaya says the containers are suspected to have been used in the commission of crimes.
“All the containers have remained locked since. The crimes suspected to have been committed include illegal possession of firearms, foreign currency and machines for printing out fake currency (both local and foreign), illegal purchase of minerals and farm produce and secondhand scrap metals,” the statement reads.
And, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, the law enforcers have invited all bonafide owners of the said containers to voluntarily report to National Police Headquarters and Mgona Market and be present during the force-opening exercise.
The owners have also been told to bring with them relevant documents to the open and search exercise.
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“Owners are advised to bring with them refugees status cards, asylum seekers cards, business registration permits, permits to deal in minerals, scrap metals, agriculture produce, scrap metals, foreign currency and permits to keep firearms.
“All claimed property which will be tainted according to law will be subject to continued investigations, arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators in accordance with the laws of Malawi,” Kalaya adds.
The exercise is expected to be witnessed by independent stakeholders which have been appointed by the court.
Meanwhile, People’s Federation for National Peace and Development, through its executive director Edward Chaka, has described the move as positive.
“It is good to do the thorough search as some refugees are alleged to be involved in armed robberies and other crimes as witnessed by media reports where a grenade case was also reported at Dzaleka camp. We commend the police for this and urge them to take necessary action if any firearms are found in those containers,” Chaka said.
