Tanzania deports six Malawians

Tanzania on Monday deported six Malawians who were found without requisite travel documents in Mbeya District in southern Tanzania.

The deportees, who comprised four women and two children, returned via Songwe Border Post 45 kilometres north of Karonga Town on Monday afternoon.

According to Songwe Border immigration spokesperson Yusuf Shaibu, the group was safely delivered at the entry point after security officials across the divide arrested them from the neighbouring town of Kyela.

“The deportees come from the [Northern] lakeshore district of Nkhata Bay and were arrested at Kyela town as they were coming from Dar es Salaam where they went to look for jobs,” he said.

Shaibu identified the deportees as Sawadi Msope, 23, Mercy Mwenda, 22, Bahati Dickson, 25, Lucy Banda, 24, three-year-old John Mwantebe and baby Jesse Banda. Interrogations revealed that they all come from traditional authorities (T/As) Mankhambira and Mkumbira, Shaibu said.

Tanzania has lately intensified evictions of illegal immigrants as part of sweeping reforms introduced by new President John Magufuli.

“I have stayed in Tanzania peacefully since 2010, but the situation became almost unbearable when Magufuli assumed office last year,” said Dickson.

On January 3, Tanzania also banished 12 Malawians who were found working without permits.