For three weeks and counting, 48 asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have camped at Immigration offices in Karonga awaiting documentation for their transit and transfer to Dzaleka Refugees Camp in Dowa.
During a visit to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services offices in Karonga yesterday, it was observed that the group comprises 17 children and 31 adults, including women.
A seven-month old baby was also seen lying on the bare floor of the office’s veranda.
“The child has experienced fever for some days now. We took her to the district hospital where they only gave us painkillers,” said the leader of the group, Twahabwa Holoshi.
He said they have not had a bath or a decent meal during their stay, adding that they beg for food at the markets.
“The immigration chief here told us to wait for documentation, but it has been three weeks now. We ask the government to help us with papers to go to the transit shelter,” said Holoshi.
In an interview, Karonga Immigration acting officer in-charge Maliseni Phiri said they are waiting for orders to process the asylum seekers.
“For a response on this matter, I would advise that you speak to the department’s national public relations officer,” he said.
Immigration Department national spokesperson Wellington Chiponde referred the matter to Northern Region office spokesperson Francis Chitambuli.
But Karonga transit shelter field officer Msanje Ng’oma said government has put its foot down that all asylum seekers must first get documentation from the Immigration Department before proceeding to the shelter.
“Sometimes people come straight here thinking they will be accommodated not knowing that they need to have a letter from Immigration,” he said.
Commenting on the matter, Youth and Society (YAS) communications officer Fredrick Watchipa said yesterday they are deeply concerned with the challenges faced by asylum seekers at the immigration office.
He said the current process, which is meant to grant asylum seeker or refugee status, has been severely hindered by the unconstitutional order of the former Immigration Department director general Charles Kalumo, preventing officers from screening and processing asylum seekers.
Kalumo is no longer at Immigration after the High Court of Malawi nullified his appointment due to recruitment flaws.
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