Travellers urged to acquire requisite documents
The Department of Immigration has urged Malawians planning to travel outside the country to ensure they have proper documentation and avoid using uncharted routes.
Mwanza Border Immigration spokesperson Pasqually Zulu said this in an interview on Wednesday following the deportation of 60 Malawians by Zimbabwe immigration authorities.
Zulu said the 60, mostly men in their mid 20s, were arrested in the past four months for various immigration offences including illegal entry and over stay, while others were refused entry in South Africa because they had insufficient funds.
He said the deportees arrived at Mwanza Border Post on Tuesday night.
Said Zulu:“The majority are from Mzimba, Mangochi and Balaka. It seems most of them embarked on such long journeys without knowing the procedures and they ended up being duped and abandoned. Our appeal is that all Malawians follow procedures when travelling.”
This year alone, Tanzania has reportedly deported 18 Malawians who were found without requisite travel documents.
In February this year, The Nation reported that more than 1 000 Malawian illegal immigrants were held at the Lindela Repatriation Centre for undocumented migrants in South Africa.
Some were later transported back to Malawi.
