Immigration Department Repatriates Illegal Foreign Miners

Immigration department has repatriated 42 illegal foreign miners who were arrested at Namizimu forest in Mangochi district.

Eastern region officer for the department Vivian Kasambo said the repatriation follows court order.

Kasambo said “36 Mozambicans have been sent home through Chiponde Mandimba border while one Congolese and 5 Tanzanians through Zambia and Songwe borders respectively.”

The illegal miners have also destroyed land in the area of Traditional Authority Makanjira and Namabvi in Mangochi district.

Government deployed soldiers to arrest the miners after concerned people held demonstrations against the illegal mining.

Among the miners were local people who were extracting the minerals and selling to foreign people.