Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma has claimed that Malawi Government lost about K392 billion in potential revenue every five years because refugees were operating businesses without business resident permits.

Speaking in an interview after meeting police officers from the South West Police Region in Blantyre on Saturday, he said Malawi has about 51 000 foreigners doing businesses without paying business resident permits on the pretext that they are refugees.

Some of the rounded up refugees

He said if all the 51 000 foreigners paid the permit fee currently at $7 500 (about K7.7million) every five years, the country would be earning about $382.5 million (about K392 billion).

Said Ng’oma: “Our economy has been eroded a lot since 1994. In the villages, we have over 51 000 illegal immigrants that are coming in on the economic basis and they are doing businesses.

“According to our laws, anybody who comes from outside Malawi is supposed to obtain a BRP for him to do business in Malawi. By accommodating these people, we have really created problems. Malawi has lost in terms of permits and taxes because of smuggling.”

He asked police officers to be vigilant in protecting the country’s economy by ensuring that no illegal immigrant or refugee is staying in the communities.

Ng’oma assured police that hardworking officers will be rewarded in a special way such as promotion to appreciate their services.

“Do not think that we don’t see what you do when we are at headquarters. So, I ask you the PS [Principal Secretary Oliver Kumbambe] to reward all officers that took part in arresting the suspected robbers near Shoprite in Blantyre,” he said.

South West Police Region Deputy Commissioner Mavuto M’bobo said despite a number of measures put in place to combat crime, lack of resources is a major setback in the region.

He said: “Insufficient mobility, particularly motor vehicles, lack of uniform, lack of accommodation are some of the challenges we are facing. When reallocating refugees to Dzaleka Refugee Camp, we have a big challenge of fuel which makes us struggle in continuing with the operation.”

Bizimana Siriyaka, a 35 year-old Burundian who was operating a shop in Lilongwe, is on record having expressed concern about the safety of the merchandise he left in his shop in Area 24 and the potential loss of business.

He said: “My shop is closed for now. I am not even sure if the merchandise I had in that shop is safe.”

Last month, law enforcement agencies, including the Malawi Police Service, Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services and Malawi Defence Force, conducted a sweeping exercise targeting immigrants who were conducting businesses in the country’s major cities without government permits.

The sweeping exercise came after asylum seekers and refugees defied an earlier government deadline of April 15 to return to their designated campsites at Dzaleka.

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