Nyusi calls for tighter control on entry of foreign citizens

Maputo, 23 Jun (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Thursday demanded tighter control over the entry of foreign citizens into the country.

He was speaking in Maputo at a ceremony where he promoted top immigration officer Felizardo Sede to the rank of Chief Commissioner of Immigration.

Cited in Friday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”, Nyusi warned of a growing trend of illegal immigration, and urged Sede “you must restore internal controls, and to this end you must identify and neutralize the internal foci of processing documents that facilitate the illegal entry of foreigners”.

Sede, he added, should crack down on the forgery of identity documents for both foreigners and Mozambicans. “You must strengthen the inspection of documents at border crossing points”, he said, “in order to detect any attempted entry into the country of foreign citizens who do not meet the legal requirements”.

He also challenged Sede to fight against corruption in the immigration service.

Sede, who has been an immigration officer for the past 20 years, told reporters he accepts Nyusi’s recommendations.

“Our challenge is to bring these services to places that are closer to citizens”, he said, “through the creation of district delegations”. He believed that this could cut the costs of issuing passports and other immigration documents.

(AIM)
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