Malawi Marine Border: First Project Launched
- nkhata Bay, Malawi — Malawi is piloting a marine Border Project in the Nkhata Bay District to address irregular migration and trafficking on lake Malawi.
- Inspector Pasqually Zulu, Public Relations Officer for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, called the project a foundation for transforming cross-border movement management.
- Lake Malawi,especially through Nkhata Bay,serves as a corridor for irregular migration,often linked to human trafficking and undocumented movement.the Marine Border Project aims to introduce structured checks, immigration screening,...
malawi just launched its pioneering Marine Border Project in Nkhata Bay to combat irregular migration and human trafficking on Lake Malawi—a pivotal step toward enhanced border security.This one-year pilot program marks Malawi’s first dedicated effort to manage lakeside borders and migration, formalizing checks and screenings. Led by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, the project aims to transform cross-border movement management, especially given that Lake Malawi serves as a notable corridor for undocumented movement. The initiative, funded by the Government of Japan and supported by the International Organisation for Migration, includes capacity building and community awareness programs. Assessments are underway to optimize facility layouts. News Directory 3 is following as Malawi seeks to enhance security and streamline legal migration. Discover what’s next for this critical undertaking.
Malawi Launches Marine Border Project to Combat Irregular Migration
Updated June 12, 2025
nkhata Bay, Malawi — Malawi is piloting a marine Border Project in the Nkhata Bay District to address irregular migration and trafficking on lake Malawi. The one-year initiative represents the country’s first dedicated effort to manage lakeside border security and migration management.
Inspector Pasqually Zulu, Public Relations Officer for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, called the project a foundation for transforming cross-border movement management. The project, led by Acting Director General Macloid Kalindang’oma, seeks to formalize surveillance at Malawi’s porous borders.
Lake Malawi,especially through Nkhata Bay,serves as a corridor for irregular migration,often linked to human trafficking and undocumented movement.the Marine Border Project aims to introduce structured checks, immigration screening, and surveillance to improve national security and streamline legal migration.
A delegation led by Commissioner Vivian Kasambo is assessing land, infrastructure, and logistics for implementation. The team includes representatives from Malawi Lake Services, the department of Buildings, and the Ministry of Lands. Zulu said these assessments are crucial for determining facility layouts and identifying potential bottlenecks.
The Government of Japan funds the project through the Japanese Supplementary Project (JSP) under the Tokyo International Conference on african Development (TICAD). The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) collaborates with Malawi on implementation. The IOM provides expertise in border infrastructure, staff training, and migrant protection.
The initiative responds to Malawi’s vulnerability to transnational crime exploiting the lack of lake monitoring. the government aims to address this blind spot, as resources are concentrated on land-based entry points, leaving lake ports under-protected. The pilot phase includes capacity building, facility installation, and community awareness programs.
“This project lays a foundation for the Department in enhancing lake-side border security,whilst at the same time promoting regular migration in Malawi at the lake-side port of entry,” Zulu said.
What’s next
If successful, the Marine Border project could expand to other lake districts, creating a regional border management model influencing neighboring countries sharing Lake Malawi, such as Mozambique and Tanzania.the program aligns with Malawi’s strategy to combat human trafficking, enhance security, and facilitate orderly migration.