By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, June 19, Mana: The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has repatriated about 265 irregular immigrants from Ethiopia who were in the Northern and central Region prisons.

The Irregular Immigrants entered into the country illegally, hence contravening Section 21(1) of the Malawi Immigration Act.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, Northern Region Immigration Public Relations Officer, Francis Chitambuli, said Most of the immigrants entered the country using unchartered routes, an act that triggered their arrests.

“We have indeed repatriated Ethiopian nationals after they have served their jail terms at Mzuzu, Mzimba and Maula prisons. The development was part of enforcement and compliance of the immigration laws in the country”, he said.

He further said any person contravening the immigration laws is subjected to the repatriation process.

The repatriation process has been funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a move that will help to decongest the prisons in the country.

Public Relations Officer for Malawi Prisons Services, Chimwemwe Shaba thanked the Immigration department for repatriating the detainees saying prisons lack resources so immigrant detainees aggravate the problems.

He however urged Malawians who help illegal immigrants into the country to avoid such activities because it is against the law.

The immigrants have left the country in a chartered plane through Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe.