Chimwendo Banda justifies arrest of 156 illegal immigrants

Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Banda has justified the arrest of 156 illegal immigrants found ply trade across the country.

The past weekend the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services conducted a joint operations where 156 foreigners who have been living illegally in the country.

Deputy National Public Relations Officer Senior Superintendent Peter Kalaya confirmed of the development in a statement released on Tuesday.

According to Kalaya, the 156 illegal immigrants were arrested in both rural and urban areas across the country where most of them were doing businesses.

The development attracted mixed reactions with many questioning the motive behind.

But Chimwendo Banda justified the arrests, saying the immigrants were plying trade illegally in the country.

“As Government we value the people’s right to movement. We love seeing people migrating from one country to another. Government loves seeing them explore economic opportunities everywhere in the world including our own beloved country Malawi.

“But what we shall never love is seeing people living illegally in the country. That is why as a nation we have managed to net 156 illegal immigrants who have been staying in our country without having proper documents. These arrests have nothing to do with refugees, but it has something to do with those who deliberately chose to stay in the country without having documents,” wrote Banda.

He added: “His Excellency President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera challenged us all that we should first clear the rubble if we are to earnestly develop this country. We are slowly doing it. Soon, this nation shall become great again.”

The arrests come barely weeks after the Malawi Government ordered refugees to relocate Dzaleka Refugees Camp.