De Jongh back, risks deportation
Silver Strikers coach Pieter de Jongh jetted back into the country on Thursday, but the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has restricted him from discharging his duties due to lack of work permit..
De Jongh arrived from Kenya through the Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe and the Department of Immigration has since summoned him to the Regional Immigration office (Centre) within three days to present his documents, according to a communique we have seen.
The notice reads: “Take notice that your entry to Malawi is revisionary restricted in terms of Section 14 of the Immigration Act as read with Regulation 10 (1) of the Immigration Regulation, and you are requested to report to the Immigration Department at Regional Immigration Office within three working days of the date hereof. If you fail to comply with the terms of this notice you are liable to be removed from Malawi.”
Under Section 14 of the Act, the Immigration Department has a right to arrest, detain and deport a suspected prohibited immigrant.
De Jongh, who left the country last month following the expiry of his work permit, was not available for comment yesterday.
But Silver Strikers board spokesperson Willard Chakanika in an interview on Thursday said they will sort out the work permit issue within the stipulated period.
He said: “Everything is under control. We allowed him to return because we are confident that the work permit will be ready within three days.”
In his absence, Silver proposed to bring back assistant coach Etson Kadenge Mwafulirwa, but De Jongh allegedly turned down the suggestion.
Instead, second assistant coach Peter Mgangira has been in charge of the team in the last two matches against Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in Airtel Top 8 and Civil Service United in TNM Super League which they both won.
