Immigration office in Mchinji has bemoaned the increased malpractice of procuring and selling of border passes to people from areas beyond the allowed distance.
The malpracticeis is said to pose a danger to national security and puts lives of Malawians at a health risk with regard to the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to Mchinji Immigration Border Post Public Relations Officer, Madalitso Banda the malpractice is common among communities near the border.
Banda said those involved in the act get the border passes from the immigration office pretending to be going to Chipata in the neighbouring country of Zambia and later they sell the documents.
“This seems to be a big challenge and that the malpractice usually happens at a place called Zalewa just a few metres away from the immigration office at the border,” he said.
Banda however, said the immigration office is closely monitoring the situation and that tactical measures have been put in place to curb the vice.
The PRO said Mchinji immigration has also instituted intensive patrols to control the use of unchartered routes.
“We will closely monitor all routes used when entering the country, although it is still a challenge despite efforts by authorities to contain the spread of COVID-19,” he said.
Cases of illegal issuing of traveling documents are on the rise in the district, on March 24 the first grade magistrate court in Mchinji found two men guilty of forgery and misuse of documents contrary to section 35 of Immigration Act.
It is reported that the two were procuring and selling border passes to people from Lilongwe and other districts.
Source: MANA
