LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is calling on Minister of Homeland Security to fast-track the process of revoking statuses of 115 foreign nationals.
The foreigners including Rwandans and Burundians, who were illegally naturalised as Malawians between 2012 and 2014.
CDEDI makes the call after an analysis of files it is privy to revealed irregularities—in the manner applications for that process was done—such as applications bearing the same file number being used to obtain multiple
nationalities, some individuals above 18 years of age presenting themselves as dependents as well as unvetted applications.
Addressing the news conference on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in the capital Lilongwe, CDEDI Executive Director therefore gave Homeland Security Minister Ken Zikhale Ng’oma seven days to act on the matter.
“Given this revelation, it is CDEDI’s conclusion that Malawi’s most sought-after documents expected to only belong to bonafide citizens are in the wrong hands, hence something needs to be done about it because the situation poses a huge security risk to the country.
“In fact, it is CDEDI’s considered view that the naturalisation status of those people need to be revoked, because a whole former minister of Homeland Security was jailed [and is still in jail] after the High Court found his approval of award of such documents to undeserving applicants irregular,” says Namiwa.
He added, “So, if the process was irregular and someone was jailed for the issuance of those documents, there is no justification for beneficiaries of the illegal process to cling to a status they do not deserve.
“Which is why, given the security risk holders of those illegally-obtained documents pose to the country, CDEDI hereby gives current Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale-Ng’oma seven days to rise above politics
and correct this anomaly forthwith”.
“In fact, CDEDI believes this call augurs well with government’s directive that all refugees and asylum seekers move to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa by the 15th of this month. Otherwise, it will be a mockery for government to be ordering all refugees and asylum seekers to go Dzaleka without doing anything
about those among them who illegally obtained naturalisation statuses.
“It is also important to highlight that a High Court ruling in Blantyre, which was delivered on 12th August 2022, brought to light cases where some foreign nationals acquired national identification cards (IDs),” he said.
Namiwa added, “CDEDI’s independent investigation has revealed that Rwandese and Burundians dominate the list of foreign nationals who came into the country neither as visitors nor refugees but ended up corruptly acquiring important documents such as work permits, passports and the much sought-after national ID.
“Those foreigners who corruptly obtained such important documents and, by extension, been naturalised, include individuals on wanted lists in their countries for suspected criminal offences; hence the need to have their statuses revoked. After all, the Malawi Citizenship Act does not allow prohibited immigrants to acquire citizenship”.
Malawi government has given illegal immigrants till April 15, 2023 to relocate to Dzaleka refugees camp in Dowa district.
