Africa-Press – Malawi. NCUBE—Malawi is doing wellThe International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has tipped Malawi to enhance collaboration to curb irregular migration, which is apparently rampant in the country but underreported.
IOM Chief of Mission to Malawi Nomagugu Ncube made the remarks during the handover of a patrol vessel in Nkhata Bay to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services.
Ncube said surveys the organisation conducted recently revealed that irregular migration and trafficking in persons exist, but the figures it has are not a true reflection of what is on the ground.
She said this is because the main means of operation by smugglers and traffickers is to avoid detection, hence the numbers are scanty.
“I would say Malawi is doing well but it can do more in the sense that the government recognises there is an irregular migration challenge.
“The second thing is to enhance collaboration among actors. For instance, the government is engaging the government of Mozambique to promote the use of a border pass so that people can move between the two countries regularly without using passports,” Ncube said.
Among other things, Ncube also said IOM is aware of the issue of passports and urged the government to address it quickly so that it can facilitate regular migration.
The ‘Immigration Patrol Vessel’ has been donated by the Japanese Government through IOM under the immigration’s Enhancing Border Security and Regular Migration project.
OYA—This approach is deeply integrated into Japan’s foreign policyJapanese Ambassador to Malawi Yoichi Oya hoped the vessel would enhance migration management around lakeshore districts.
“Japan is a strong advocate for the concept of human security, emphasising the protection and empowerment of individuals and communities from various threats. This approach is deeply integrated into Japan’s foreign policy and development assistance,” he said.
In his remarks, Fletcher Nyirenda, Commissioner responsible for Operations at the Department of Immigration, acknowledged that their visibility was mostly on land and at airports.
Nyirenda said this gave smugglers and traffickers the chance to use the lake as an entry point without being detected.
“So, we felt that our efforts were lacking because while we were doing well in other areas of border management, we have vast water bodies which include Lake Malawi and even the Shire River, which borders Mozambique. That is why we conceptualised this project and engaged our donor partners,” he said.
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