Malawi fines Mozambicans: K25,000 each

Whereas Malawians nabbed in other countries for illegal entry are paying heavily for being found there, Malawi keeps being lenient with the people who violate its space.

The Nkhatabay First Grade Magistrate court on Tuesday ordered nine Mozambican men who were arrested for illegal entry into Malawi to pay a fine of K25, 000 each or in default serve six months in jail.

The court through police prosecutor Sergeant Keston Chiona heard that the nine Mozambicans entered Malawi without having supporting documents.

Chiona went further to tell the court that the nine men were aided into the country by Jaja Kamanga, 65, who was also arrested and was charged with the offence of aiding illegal entry which is contrary to section 31 sub section 1 of Immigration Act.

The nine suspects pleaded guilty to the charge and in their mitigations they asked the court to forgive them since they did not know that moving from one’s country to another without relevant documents is an offence.

But First Grade Magistrate Billy Ngosi quashed the convicts’ mitigation by saying that ignorance of the law is not a defence in a court of law.

He later ordered them to pay a fine of K25, 000, or in default to spend the next six months in jail. The court has also ordered that the Mozambicans be handed over to Immigration Department for deportation once they either pay the fine or after serving their sentence.

Meanwhile, the court has sentenced Kamanga to serve a one year jail term without an option of a fine for aiding the nine Mozambican men to illegally enter Malawi.

Kamanga hails from Kang’oma Village, Traditional Authority Mankhambira in the district.