Immigration director told to combat corruption

Maputo,11 Mar (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo on Monday challenged the new director of the National Immigration Service (Senami), Zainadine Danane, to combat illegal immigration and corruption in the issuing of travel documents.

He was speaking at a ceremony in Maputo where he swore Danane into office as the new director of Senami.

Chapo declared that Senami should be a key element in Mozambican security “ensuring that only those foreign citizens who meet the requirements laid down in our immigration legislation can enter and remain in our territory”.

Behind illegal immigration, he said, there lies hidden a vast range of criminal phenomena that endanger Mozambican sovereignty and destabilise the economy.

“I am referring, for example, to terrorism and to organised and transnational crime, expressed in kidnappings, drug trafficking, trafficking in people and in human body parts, illegal extraction of fauna and flora, and money laundering, among the other evils that must be prevented and fought against”.

“We know there are networks that forge passports, entry visas, and identification and residence documents for foreigners”, added Chapo. “It is the task of the Senami General Director to fight ferociously against these evils, against the vices of corruption, extortion, clientilism, and negligence, among other criminal practices, since these stain the good image of the institution”.

Chapo urged Danane to improve Senami’s attendence to members of the public, but without neglecting security.

The President also wanted to see a new head office built for Senami, and the issuing of biometric passports in Mozambican embassies. He also told Danone to eliminate the crowds of people outside the Senamo offices who claim to be “facilitators” of documents, but in reality have no official position in the institution and merely extort money from applicants.
(AIM)
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