December 16, 2016
Malawi has this year deported over 100 Ethiopians who were staying in the country without a right of abode, a senior government official has said.
Speaking during the International Migrants Day on Friday in Lilongwe, principal secretary for Home Affairs Beston Chisamile said the deportation was done after consultations with the Ethiopian government officials.
He said last year, the government repatriated over 300 Ethiopians back to their country of origin.
They are intercepted in unchartered routes as they head to South Africa where they seek greener pasters.
Chisamile conceded that illegal immigrants are held in police cells with criminals as they await deportation processes to complete.
“We are working with our cooperating parners to establish migrants holding centres,” said Chisamile.
Medicins san Frontier officials said there are 150 migrants at Maula Prison in Lilongwe awaiting deportations. Malawi prisons are faced with overpopulation of inmates who include the migrants.