Government has branded defiant refugees and asylum seekers living in rural and urban areas as criminals.

This comes as ministry of Homeland security has disclosed that until deadline for relocation only 45 families moved to Dzaleka refugees’ camp.

Minister of Homeland security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma has said the country has over 3 thousand refugees and asylum seekers who are doing various businesses illegally.

According to Ng’oma people without papers living in the country are criminals as all recognized Refugees moved to Dzaleka.

Ng’oma has however cautioned small scale business operators not to take law in their hands as authorities will enforce police and immigration departments to move out the resistant refugees and asylum seekers living in rural and urban areas.

Meanwhile Tenson Mulimbula Secretary General for Small Scale Business Operators Association of Malawi expressed optimism that government will manage to move out all refugees and asylum seekers living in rural and urban areas.