Mozambican immigration, security officials demanding bribes and harassing Malawian passengers

Source: Nyasa Times, 15/09/2016

Ask bus passengers who travel or have travelled to South Africa and
Zimbabwe what problems they face when they travel in Mozambique, they
will tell you it is `hell`.Immigration officials, police officers and
customs officials extort money from passengers either going or coming
from South Africa and Zimbabwe at Zobwe, Dezda and Nyamapanda border
posts.


Mozambique and Malawi border posts…
When Malawian travellers are going to South Africa or Zimbabwe,
Mozambican immigration and security officials check passports whether
there is bank stamp showing purchase of foreign exchange. They demand
to see the money or foreign exchange slip. Even when they are shown
the bank slip or stamp they still demand money. Travellers pay
anything between R50 and R100. And they do this for each bus: Inter
Cape, Chipoozani, Business Times, Munorurama, Nyali etc. Sometimes
travellers are manhandled.


But wait a minute, of what interest is it for Mozambican or Zimbabwean
authorities to demand to see how much money Malawians are carrying in
their passports as if they are going to Mozambique or Zimbabwe? They
are in transit. If anything, it is the South African authorities who
should check and demand to see the how much money Malawians are
carrying because it is the final destination.


When Malawian passengers are coming from South Africa, Mozambican
authoritiestarget Malawians who have overstayed in South Africa and
their passport have a Section 50 (Prohibited Immigrant) stamp. Just
like the Zimbabwean immigration officials, Mozambicans demand money
before they can stamp the passport. Malawians pay anything between R50
and R200 at either border points, depending upon how much bargaining
power travellers have. But one has to ask: why should Mozambican or
Zimbabwean immigration officials demand money as if Malawians have
overstayed in their countries? Even in South Africa overstay is not a
big issue. Those who overstay are required to pay a penalty fee of
R3000 to re-enter.


For (private)transporters who ferry personal household goods from
South Africa, officials look at the type of vehicle one is driving and
the load one is carrying. Mozambicans candemand anything between R500
and R700 to open the gate for one to pass.


Malawian authorities at the borders are aware of the malpractices and
harassment Malawians face, but they have failed to raise the issues
with their Mozambican counterparts even if Malawian travellers have
complained of ill-treatment.


In the past, Zambians used to face similar problems when travelling to
South Africa. Zimbabwean Immigration officials at Chirundu border used
to demand to see how much money Zambians were carrying in their
passports and demanded bribes. Zambian travellers complained to their
government about the ill-treatment. This prompted the Zambian
government to initiate discussions with their Zimbabwean counterparts
to solve the issue. Zimbabwean authorities stopped ill–Zambians. They
also agreed that bothimmigration and customs officials from both
countries to operate under one building on either side of the border.


Today, Chirundu is one the best border posts to use: no
corruption, no ill-treatment or harassment of travellers.But this was
only possible because of intervention from authorities.


Malawians are losing a lot of money to these corrupt and callous
Mozambican officials. If truth be told, Mozambican officials at
Dedza, Zobwe and Nyamapanda (Chuchamano) borders are the very callous,
most brutal and worst corrupt people in the whole SADC region.


Incidentally, the harassment and stealing from Malawian passengers has
been going on for many years and has now become worse. Yet many
Mozambicans cross the border illegally to seek medical attention in
Dedza, Ntheu, Mwanza, Nsanje and Mulanje. But they are not harassed by
Malawians. The very brutal officers who extort money from Malawian
travellers use the same money to buy groceries in Mwanza or Dedza.



Everyone knows thatit is not the policy of the Mozambican government
for immigration and security officers to harass, intimidate, extort
ordemand money from travellers at borders. This is the work of a few
misguided and corrupt individuals who abuse their authority. This is
why senior Malawi government officials should now step in. They should
not pay a blind eye to the pain and suffering of Malawian passengers
at the hands of a few greed Mozambican officials.


It is time high time the government did something about it. Minister
of Foreign Affairs Francis Katsaila and Home Affairs and Internal
Security Minister Grace Chiumia should pluck some courage and hold
talks with their Mozambican counterparts to end this institutionalised
harassment and exploitation of innocent Malawians.

They
should demand commitment that the Mozambican immigration and security
officials will stop harassing, extorting money and intimidating
Malawians at the borders or when they pass through Mozambique.


The outrageous behaviour of these Mozambican officials is not only
against the spirit of good neighbourliness and internationally
accepted human rights standards, but pure barbarism. It has to be
stopped once and for all. It is sickening!