Malawi starts digital operations at Mwanza boarder

The Immigration department at Mwanza Border is, by March this year, expected to start computerized screening and verification of people and goods entering or exiting this country.

This, according to Mwanza Border Immigration Public Relations Officer, Pasqually Zulu is part of the on-going government’s reforms.

Zulu asserted that the transition from manual to digital operations will assist the border in curbing illegal entry of people and prohibited goods, which for a long time has been posing a threat to
national security.

He indicated that for a long time the facility has been struggling to control illegal entry and exit of people, a situation which has been putting the country at risk of entertaining criminals and other people of questionable habits.

“You can agree with me that the world is now becoming sophisticated with crime and for us to continue vetting people and goods manually is a big risk to the country. This is perhaps why Malawi has been listedamong countries which ‘drug traffickers’ have been using to get to their other destination,” said Zulu.

He also revealed that last week, the border has managed to send back 22 Malawians from Mangochi district who were travelling without proper document; some of them were using borrowed passports but were detected before crossing the border.

“An additional 30 Malawians from the northern region have also been deported by the Mozambican Authorities after they were caught using unchartered routes on their way to South Africa. Despite having proper documents, these people were trying to avoid borders because they did not have the minimum required money for one to have when travelling to a foreign country,” said Zulu.

On this note, the immigration spokesperson advised the general public to make sure that they have necessary documents before travelling, explaining that there job is neither to receive illegal immigrants nor send people back, but rather to assist and verify those exiting and entering the country.

 

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