* 45 of those arrested are suspected of attempting to obtain Malawian passports fraudulently
By Serah Chikwapula, Malawi News Agency (MANA)
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has arrested more than 1,000 foreign nationals, deported 223 and rejected 1,752 visa applications between October 2025 and October 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen border security and fight immigration-related offences.
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A statement that was issued on its official Facebook page on Sunday, November 8, indicates that 45 of those arrested are suspected of attempting to obtain Malawian passports fraudulently.
Two foreign nationals, Zambian Yasin Chenda Moses and Tanzanian Bornlose Onasimbo Ntinkha, were convicted in Blantyre last week for attempting to obtain Malawian passports fraudulently and are awaiting deportation to their respective countries.
The Immigration Department reports further that it is working with the National Registration Bureau (NRB) to investigate a passport application involving a woman identified as Alice Banda, following questions about her nationality and identity documents.
The application underwent document verification on November 5, 2026 but was rejected at the interview stage on November 6. It was also rejected during the audit stage.
Immigration has clarified that the application was never completed and that no Malawian passport was issued to the applicant.
However, investigations are continuing to establish whether anyone attempted to influence the application process.
The statement has also stressed that it would not allow anyone to misuse the country’s immigration system.
“We will not tolerate fraudulent practices or attempts to abuse immigration procedures,” says the statement. “Every person seeking a Malawian passport must meet the requirements set by the law.”
It further described the Malawian passport as an important national document that represents the country’s identity and sovereignty.
“The integrity, credibility and security of the Malawian passport must be protected at all times. It is a sovereign national document and must only be issued in accordance with the laws of Malawi.”
The Department has also assured the public that it will continue working with other government institutions and international partners to fight identity fraud, strengthen migration controls and improve immigration services.
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