Ministry of Homeland Security Principal Secretary responsible for National Registration Bureau (NRB), Mphatso Nsambo has expressed concern that some refugees possess illegal and fraudulent national identification (ID) cards, a situation which threatens national security.
Nsambo was speaking in Lilongwe on Thursday when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security.
He said NRB has so far managed to confiscate nine illegal and one fraudulent ID cards since the commencement of the relocation exercise.
Recently, Ministry of Homeland Security relocated refugees and asylum seekers who lived and conducted business outside the refugee camp.
The exercise followed the expiration of the April 15, 2023 deadline government had given refugees residing outside the camp to voluntarily return to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa.
“Malawi’s identity card is one of the most secured legal documents in the world hence it is not easy for someone to tamper with it as it possesses digital verification and magnetic readable zones, among other security features. That is why it was very easy for us to trace them,” said Nsambo.
Nsambo cited a case at Dzaleka Refugee Camp where one of the refugees is in police custody for possessing a fraudulent ID card.
Concerned with the dubious acts, Nsambo said NRB is in the process of lobbying Parliament to review the current Registration Act and strengthen the registration process.
“Previously it was a challenge as the Act did not have the mandate to register refugees hence the need to review it,” he said.
In an interview, Acting Regional Immigration Officer, Superintendent Alexander Maseko concurred with Nsambo on the need to review the Registration Act saying the review is a step ahead in dealing with the malpractice.
Reported by Sheminah Nkhoma & Patience Longwe
