Malawians turn up to legalise stay

By Khalfan Said

17th September 2013

To be issued with temporary permits

Undocumented Malawians seen queuing at the Immigration Department in Dar es Salaam yesterday. They are to receive temporary legal status after giving their particulars.

Days after the government reassured Malawians in the country of their safety following allegations of being targets of prejudice, hundreds of Malawians staying in the country without documents yesterday voluntarily turned up at the Immigration Offices in Dar es Salaam seeking to legalize their stay.

Speaking during a news conference yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson, Issac Nantanga, said hundreds of Malawians turned up at the immigration offices to fill forms that would grant them temporary permits before they are issued with long term ones later on.

The said forms declare residency, occupation and other personal information.

On Saturday last week, the Malawi Newspaper, Daily Times, reported that Malawians living in Tanzania are in fear of their lives and that they have been victims of violent attacks a claim that the government strongly refuted saying -Malawians are not being singled out in the ongoing immigration crackdown across the country.

Dated September 14, 2013 Malawi’s Daily Times bared the headline: “Malawians face xenophobia in Tanzania.”

It read in part: “Reminiscent of the recent South African xenophobic attacks, Malawians living in Tanzania are being targeted.

Government spokesperson, Assah Mwambene made it clear that legal action will be sort against the publishers of the article but meanwhile reassured Malawians in the country to report any incidents to the authorities.

“What is going on is a legal search and deportation of undocumented immigrants… no one is being singled out…the operation is peaceful and it observes all human rights,” explained the government spokesperson.

“…we will pursue the matter along the proper legal channels until the matter is resolved…” he said.

The government maintains that no illegal immigrants should live in fear but to instead follow the required law and turn themselves in to have their particulars registered. As for those who do not wish to continue staying, they are to leave the country voluntarily.

Following the directives, by September 4, 2013, some 21,717 illegal immigrants voluntarily left for their home countries
The majority of over 21,717 immigrants were from Burundi representing 14,738 of them that is about 68 percent. 6,563 of the illegal settlers were reported to be Rwandese that is 30 percent. Others were, 307 Ugandans, 89 Congolese and 20 Zambians. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN