Eastern Region Immigration Office has rounded up 11 suspected illegal immigrants in a sweeping exercise in the week.
Regional Immigration Officer for the East, Vivian Kasambo, confirmed the development on Thursday, saying nine of the immigrants have since been deported to their countries of origin, Tanzania and Mozambique while two immigrants of Burundian nationality have been sent to Dzaleka Refugee Camp.
“We have embarked on a sweeping exercise with an intention of keeping the region free from illegal immigrants and the sweeping patrols are being conducted across the region,” Kasambo said.
“Nine of the illegal immigrants were arrested at Chiponde Border Post while the other two were arrested at Mangochi Boma,” he added.
Kasambo said those arrested at Chiponde included three Tanzanians and six Mozambicans who have since been deported to their respective countries.
He said the two Burundi nationals arrested at Mangochi Boma claimed to be refugees but they failed to produce any documents to prove their status.
According to Kasambo, the Eastern Region Immigration Office is also conducting lake patrols in conjunction with the marine department of the Malawi Police Service, noting that both the land and lake patrols will be an ongoing exercise.
Recently, Minister of Homeland Security, Richard Chimwendo Banda visited the Eastern Region Immigration Office in Mangochi where he emphasized the need to flush out illegal immigrants in the country.
During the visit, Chimwendo Banda described the Eastern Region Immigration Office as the most professional and dedicated formation, observing that many formations in the country could draw lessons from it.
“I’m such a person who doesn’t get impressed so easily but I should admit that I’m impressed with how the Eastern Region Immigration Office discharges its duties and I urge you to keep up,” Chimwendo Banda said.
Source: MANA
