Tension At Immigration Offices, Director Orders Shutdown Of Permit Section

Officers at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services say their director, a military Brigadier General Charles Kalumo (retired) has ordered the shutdown of a their permit section and sent on forced leave two of his deputies, without offering any reasons.

The shutdown of the permit section at the Immigration headquarters in Blantyre has effectively halted issuance of diplomatic, employment and residence permits for expatriates, Investors and foreign medical doctors.

Kalumo has however said that the matter is internal and administrative in nature as such he cannot disclose any information.

The officers have further confided in this publication that the Immigration’s director general has revoked clearance of the chief passport officer, deputy commissioner Anne Kaonga and another, Commissioner Stanleck kalimanjira.

Efforts to seek clarification from the Deputy Commissioner Karonga also proved futile since he declined to comment.

However Commissioner Kalimanjira says his boss personally sealed his office some two weeks ago, but is yet to get an official communication regarding his employment status at the Department.

Despite efforts to conceal the news allegations are rife that the retired brigadier general, Kalumo, has verbally sent on leave 16 officers from Chileka and Kamuzu International airport.

President Lazarus Chakwera recalled Kalumo from retirement in August 2022, a move which was heavily criticized and met with protest within the department.