Confirming the development to MBC, National Registration Bureau Spokesperson Norman Fulatila said the three wanted to register in Dedza district.

“Police have arrested 3 Mozambicans and one Malawian lady, one of the Mozambicans is married to a Malawian woman who went to the centre to collect the forms for the Mozambicans,” said Fulatila adding that the police noticed that something is not in order.

He added that with this development the Bureau is determined to do all it can to ensure that only eligible citizens are registered.

“Currently, all the suspects are in custody, I am not sure what charges will be charged against them but according to Law providing false evidence and trying to register falsely are all offenses,” he added.

The mass registration exercise is planned to be done in 5 phases, with the first phase covering the districts of Dowa, Kasungu, Mchinji, Nkhotakota, Ntchisi and Salima and will end on 15th July 2017.

The next, 27th June to 18th August is to cover Dedza, Likoma, Lilongwe and Ntcheu. From 31st July to 21st September 2017, residents of Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Mwanza, Nsanje, Neno and Thyolo are to be registered. Phase 4 should run from 3rd September to 25th October 2017 in Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Phalombe and Zomba.

Finally, from 7th October to 28th November 2017, Malawians from Chitipa, Karonga, Mzimba, Nkhata Bay and Rumphi are to be registered. It is expected that approximately 9 million eligible Malawian citizens, above the age of 16 will be registered by December 2017. They should be issued with National Identity Cards few weeks after phase completion.

The mass registration project is led by Malawi Government’s National Registration Bureau with technical support from the United Nations Development Program - UNDP.