The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrates’ Court has remanded to prison 67 Indian nationals to Maula Prison for working without permit.

The situation follows the Minister of Homeland Security’s surprise visit to Salima Sugar Company, where he discovered that over 60 Indian nationals are working at the factory without work permits including the top management. The Minister, Richard Chimwendo Banda, therefore directed the top management of the factory to submit files and work permits for the company’s employees by 21 July, 2pm. According to Immigration Prosecutor Binwell Kachingwe, the documents that were submitted were not valid, hence the arrest, followed by sending the individuals back to India. “The State’s position is for these people to be deported to their country and there are no two ways about that.” said Kachingwe

Defense Lawyer Joseph Chiume appealed that the Indians should be granted bail and that they should remain in the country. Meanwhile, as the Tonse Alliance administration aims to provide 1 million jobs per year to combat unemployment in the country, it will review the issuance of Temporary Employment Permits to foreign workers and nationals in order to give a chance to locals. “Government wants to emphasise the labour element reviewing the available capacity in the country.” said the Minister of Labour Ken Kandodo, “ Foreigners should be given permits on skills that are lacking in the country. Many Malawians have complained that foreigners are taking up much of their work space,”.