Security entities decry influx of illegal immigrants

Authorities have decried the influx of illegal immigrants into the country as a national ‘security threat’ as some of them are involved in organised crimes like human trafficking and terrorism, among others.

In separate interviews on Tuesday this week, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services and the Malawi Police Service said the national security threats posed by the illegal immigrants include human trafficking, human smuggling, drug trafficking, threats of terrorism, importation of expired foods and drugs.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services spokesperson Wellington Chiponde said the department is using proactive approaches at all levels to curb proliferation of the illegal immigrants who were mostly economic immigrants seeking economic opportunities.

National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said: “Most illegal immigrants form part of human trafficking which is a serious organised crime that is international in nature. Dealing with it requires special skills and dedication and as a service, we are doing a lot to ensure that we deal with it decisively.”

He gave the example of a 1994 Rwandan genocide convict Vincent Murekezi who lived in Malawi from 2003 until 2019 when he was extradited to Rwanda for his role which he was tried in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment.

While in Malawi, Murekezi owned several businesses in Lilongwe and was convicted on fraud-related charges for which he was serving a five-year sentence at the time of his extradition.

He secured Malawian citizenship with a passport but was arrested in 2016 following an international arrest warrant issued by Rwandan authorities to their Malawian counterparts.

Statistics from both the police and immigration show that in the past three years they intercepted and deported over 2 200 illegal immigrants although the trends show an increase in illegal immigrants.

In 2020 the Department of Immigration deported 175 immigrants while in 2021 the figure rose to 729. Last year the department banished 354 immigrants, according to police statistics.

Records at the police also show that the law enforcers arrested 150 illegal immigrants in 2020, the number more than doubled to 380 in 2021 and rose to 390 in 2022.

In January and February 2023 alone, the law enforcers have arrested 108 illegal immigrants, according to the records.

Kalaya said they face difficulties to patrol the borderline on Lake Malawi and between neighbouring countries as well as dealing with communities aiding and abetting illegal immigrants entering the country.

Some of the police efforts include strengthening inter-agency relations and cooperation with other agencies, intensifying intelligence collection and sensitising locals on the need to report migrants to authorities, he said.

A former police officer Alex Chisiano observed that the country is faced with challenges of illegal immigrants as it is considered a safe and easier passage for such people as they proceed to other destinations like South Africa.

He said the country is also deemed to be an easier conduit for illegal substances and activities due to its porous borders.

He, therefore, urged authorities to step up their game in surveillance programmes and bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries on migration issues.

Said Chisiano: “Poverty and corruption plays a substantial role in facilitating illegal passage and migration. As such, there is need for more strategic and calculated checks in surveillance programmes.”

To make the country safer, he suggested a tailored multi-sectoral incentivised approach involving law enforcement agencies like Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and local communities.

In an interview on Wednesday, former Inspector General (IG) of police Lot Dzonzi observed that the challenge facing the country is that movement of illegal immigrants is not regulated as they don’t have passports and visas and do not use regular entry points.

Said Dzonzi:” This then becomes the concern of security agents. It is not easy to establish their intentions for movement. There is empirical evidence of people who would be a security risk to our country being found among them i.e. ex-combatants, or people who took part in genocide and other criminal activities.”

The former IG further added that if Malawi was to be a haven of peace, safety, security, tranquility, and economic opportunities it would not be a destination or conduit for migrants and urged Malawians to be able to see and appreciate the opportunities that migrants take advantage of.

Last October 30-dead bodies of illegal immigrants were found in a mass grave in Mtangatanga Forest in Mzimba District.