Just In: Man murdered in Nkobe, Maputo province, 50 bullets fired - police
Malawians pen Mozambique Govt over its immigration officers’ abusive tendencies – The Maravi Post
3:40 CAT | 16 Mar 2020
Photo: The Maravi Post
Some concerned citizens along side a local non-governmental organisation called Ufulu Wanga on Friday, March 13, 2020 petitioned Mozambique government over allegations that country’s immigration officers are mistreating Malawians who travel to and from South Africa using its boarders.
According to the letter addressing to the Mozambique Embassy in Malawi signed by Ufulu wanga program’s officer Paula Jimu Nyirongo the grouping is asking Mozambique government to ease travel of SADC citizens traveling within her boarders.
The letter observes that many Malawians travelling to and from South Africa are being victimised by Mozambican immigration officers and those manning the frontier.
“we are saddened and disappointed with the treatment that travellers and specifically Malawians get when they are transiting through Mozambique when travelling to and from South Africa by road,” reads part of the letter.
The letter further points out that among other things Malawians who travel to and from South Africa on the Colomne-Zobue -Cuchamano route are harassed and subjected to unfair treatment immigration staff and those manning the frontier.
“Whenever Malawians are traveling to and from South Africa they are forced to pay R50,00 on the port of entry or exit when they are using a new passport, pay up to R100.00 if the person overstayed in South Africa, Malawians are also accused of travelling with fake bank forex procurement receipts.
“Yet their receipts are genuine only that they are being pressured to be extorted of R50.00 or more as is the case in many instances and pay R50.00 whenever their passports has no endorsement of R3,000.00 money which an individual would use as he/she travels to South Africa” it reads.
The concerned citizens and grouping are calling Mozambique government through its embassy in Malawi to look into the matter “forth with” stop them from extorting money from travellers.
“We would have thought that there is an expected honest normal conduct from Mozambican officials and not the current unprofessional conduct that is centrally to immigration procedures in any sovereign country,” reads the letter.
The letter also States that the organisation and concerned citizens believes that SADC member state countries within the region have an obligation to ensure that they allow citizens from their sister countries to have an unencumbered access and transit within their borders albeit ensuring that the laws and regulation are adhered to.
“It is however very alarming that Mozambique immigration officers on this route always aims at reaping off Malawian travellers and shamelessly demand ungazetted laws and fines to be paid to them.
“This behaviour is targeted to all Malawians but those travelling on buses bear the brunt,” it reads. Among the documents submitted to the embassy includes video clip of officers caught on camera extorting travellers.
Meanwhile the Mozambican embassy in Malawi is yet to respond to the letter.
Source: The Maravi Post
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.