65 illegal immigrants arrested in sweeping exercise

The department of immigration has arrested about 65 illegal immigrants in an operation aimed at cleaning up the country off uncertified residents.

National Immigration spokesperson Joseph Chauwa said the national wide exercise started on Wednesday this week and the department is targeting companies and residential areas suspected to be harbouring illegal immigrants.

“This is not a new exercise, we do this periodically. When we come across those without proper documents, we give them a chance to work on their documents failure which they are deported to their respective countries of origin once court procedures are concluded,” he said.

According to Chauwa, the department is checking from foreign residents documents such as passports and visas including business permits, work permits and residential permits.

Chauwa has since urged the public to alert the department if they suspect presence of illegal immigrants at their work places or communities.

Recently, the media has been awash with reports of illegal immigrants from countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and different Asian countries enjoying illegal stay in Malawi.

In a related development, the department on has also intercepted 54 Malawian nationals on transit to South Africa for travelling without proper documentation.

According to Mwanza immigration officer Pasqually Zulu, the 54 were caught during a joint sweeping exercise which was conducted by the department, the police and the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).

“During investigation it was revealed that the 54 were assisted by Elias Jafali aged 24 from Ntonda village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Chowe in Mangochi, Shadreck Mafupa from Kambuku village, T/A Makhwangwala in Ntcheu, Dickson Limited from Mchenga village, T/A Kuntaja Blantyre both aged 30 and Mabvuto Phiri aged 34 from Kachenga village, T/A Mankhambira in Nkhata-Bay.”

Zulu further said the four, currently remanded at Mwanza Prison pending investigations, are expected to appear before court soon.

A month ago, two Malawians died and one is still in a critical condition in Mozambique after falling off from under a truck trailer on their way to South Africa.

“This is sad, we are appealing to the public to use proper documentation and certified channels when travelling outside the country,” advised Zulu.