Malawi officials snubbed over detained children

District commissioner (DC) for Moatizi District in Mozambique on Tuesday allegedly refused to host a local team of social welfare and immigration officers on a mission to secure a release of 13 Malawian children being detained on suspicion that they were trafficked, Weekend Nation has learnt.

Last week, we reported that a Zimbabwean national—Blessings Jambo—had allegedly trafficked the children on the pretext that he would organise a Christmas party for them in Mozambique.

Following the publication of the story, Mwanza DC Gift Rapozo sent district social welfare officer (DSWO) for Mwanza, Maggie Assam and an immigration officer to Mozambique to secure the release of the children.

But their journey to Moatizi did not yield results as DC for Moatizi in Mozambique did not grant them an audience.

Assam confirmed of the snub on Thursday, saying they never expected to get a cold shoulder considering that “our Mozambican counterparts had earlier indicated willingness to release the children when they approached us”.

She explained: “We were badly humiliated right in the corridors of the office of Moatizi DC. I should, however, be grateful to Moatizi Police officer-in-charge who was very supportive.”

Rapozo said his office engaged the Mozambican Consular General [to Malawi] on Thursday for his intervention.

Said Rapozo: “He has assured us that he will contact authorities in Mozambique. We are currently spending sleepless nights because we would like to see the children back to school.”

Cassim Aubi—who claims to be a relative of the children—claimed that only 11 of the children are from Makwinja Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chikowi in Zomba, saying the other two were picked at Tsangano Trading Centre.

Said Aubi: “He [Jambo] had no sinister motive when taking the children to Mozambique. But the problem is coming in because he did not follow immigration procedures when doing so. He is indeed our relative.”