By Linda Kwanjana
The State President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has expressed his government’s commitment to flush out illegal immigrants, saying they rob the country’s economy under the pretext of refugees.
Chakwera made the remarks when he hosted the permanent Mission Resident to the United Nations Dr. Agnes Mary Chimbiri -Morande at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
Chakwera told Morande that illegal immigrants are taking farm produce using informal ways.
“Do not talk about Homeland Security Minister,am talking about the scrupulous dealers who are the vading taxes from BRP- TEP and others under the pretext of political asylum seekers yet their aim is to smuggle our produce thereby eroding our economy,” he said.
Additionally, Chakwera said that his government will continue to fight against scrupulous bandits who enter the country as political asylum seekers and refugees.
“We will fight them head on to protect our economy from being exploited”, Chakwera said.
Malawi loses over 367 million US dollars just in BRP at a fee of 7000 US dollars per foreign trader.
Reports show that Malawi is hosting about 51000 informal traders who are doing informal businesses that elude taxes and permits.
Malawi can recover its economy if callaborative efforts can be made among the key Ministries of finance, Homeland Security,Trade and Agriculture by tightening their operations.
The Ministry of Homeland Security is playing a leading role in ensuring that such malpractices are stopped through refugees head count exercise that is currently underway.
