Malawi Freedom Network 
By MFN Reporter
Malawi has stepped up its fight against irregular migration and immigration fraud, rejecting 1,752 visa applications, apprehending more than 1,000 foreign nationals and deporting 223 others in an intensified nationwide enforcement operation.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services says the crackdown is aimed at tightening migration controls, safeguarding national security and protecting the integrity of Malawi’s national identity and travel documents.
Among those apprehended are 45 foreign nationals suspected of attempting to fraudulently acquire Malawian passports, raising fresh concerns about efforts to manipulate the country’s citizenship and passport issuance systems.
In a related development, two foreign nationals have been convicted in Blantyre over offences connected to attempts to obtain Malawian passports through fraudulent means.
The convicted individuals, identified as Yasin Chenda Moses, a Zambian national, and Bornlose Onasimbo Ntinkha, a Tanzanian national, are awaiting deportation to their respective countries.
The department has also opened investigations into the nationality claims of a passport applicant identified as Alice Banda in Lilongwe, following questions surrounding information submitted during her national identity registration.
According to immigration authorities, Banda’s application underwent document verification on November 5, 2026, but was rejected during the interview stage on November 6. It was subsequently rejected again during the audit process.
The department has stressed that the application never successfully progressed to completion and that no Malawian passport was issued to the applicant.
Investigations are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the application and determine whether any individuals attempted to interfere with or influence the immigration process.
National Public Relations Officer for the department, Pasqually Zulu, has warned that authorities will not tolerate fraudulent activities or attempts to undermine the credibility of Malawi’s national travel documents.
The department says it will continue collaborating with relevant local and international institutions to strengthen border management, improve migration oversight and ensure that citizenship and immigration procedures comply with the law.
The latest figures underline the government’s growing focus on immigration enforcement, particularly amid concerns about fraudulent identity registration and attempts by foreign nationals to obtain Malawian travel documents illegally.
Authorities say protecting the integrity of Malawi’s passport system remains a priority, as the country seeks to ensure that its travel documents are issued only to eligible citizens through lawful and transparent procedures.
