Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has raised concerns over increasing cases of human trafficking and human smuggling in the country’s border districts of Karonga and Chitipa.
MHRC Executive Secretary Habiba Osman disclosed this on Tuesday in Mzuzu after a meeting with journalists.
She said this comes after the commission investigated the protection of asylum seekers and other migrants in the two districts.
Osman further said that reduced operational status of the Karonga Transit Shelter and the suspension of formal asylum processing have created gaps that are being exploited by organised smuggling networks.
Therefore, she said MHRC recommends improved border management, coordination and accountability among relevant institutions, restoration of effective refugee reception and asylum processing systems, among others.
Department of Refugees Eligibility Officer, Modester Mwafulirwa, commended MHRC for the investigations.
Mwafulirwa has since assured the public of their commitment to ensuring that such issues no longer exist.
By George Mkandawire
