Malawi, Mozambique discuss extradition treaty
Malawi and Mozambique have committed to expand areas of cooperation by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on extradition.
The two countries made the commitment on Tuesday when Mozambican High Commissioner Jose Maria Zita engaged Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo at Capital Hill in Lilongwe to discuss matters affecting the two nations, and find ways of collaboration.
According to the Ministry of Justice official Facebook page, Zita, whose title is Minister Plenipotentiary, told Mvalo that it was Mozambique government’s wish to have an agreement not only on extradition but also on the exchange of prisoners as well as sharing general information.
The Mozambican envoy observed that three years ago his country, through its mission in Malawi, used to receive a number of Mozambican suspects and prisoners being held in different prison facilities in the country, but that arrangement was abruptly stopped.
But responding to Zita, Mvalo described the issues raised as crucial and assured him that he would take them up with the ministry’s technical team and the Minister of Homeland Security for further scrutiny.
“In Malawi, we already have the Extradition Act, which is a domestic law, and on the other hand there is a Sadc Protocol on Extradition. In principle, this is not a problem; it is just a matter of following these two instruments and finding best ways to apply them. We cannot allow any hurdles. We have to continue enjoying our good relationship,” he said.
The meeting comes after judicial authorities in Tete, Mozambique have been advocating for the revision of the prisoner extradition agreement with Malawi to decongest jails in that province, which currently have 92 Malawians, 60 of whom are in pre-trial custody.
Director of the Provincial Justice Services, Sergio Mature was quoted by an online newspaper Pan African Visions as saying the development was incurring costs to the country for food and other essential services.
Malawi has entered into Extradition Treaties with a number of countries since March 1972 when it first signed with South Africa to transfer convicted persons and any person accused of committing a crime in their respective countries.
In November last year, government, through the Malawi Prisons Service, signed a prisoners’ exchange transfer programme with Zambia Correctional Service that saw 31 Malawians that were serving sentences in that country being sent to Malawi to complete their terms.
