Traditional leaders have called upon government and stakeholders to intensify awareness and civic education on the Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Act of 2015.

The plea has been made in Salima during an orientation session on human trafficking and smuggling of migrants which saw participation of 46 senior chiefs from the central region.

According to one of the traditional leaders Senior Chief Kaomba of Kasungu District, civic educating the masses on the act will play a significant role in dealing with the vice.

“When you go down on the ground the people in the villages they are not aware of the Act so we need civic education on the Act and that people should be able to report anything that is strange,” he said.

“In the past normally nobody would stay in a village without being reported to a chief, this time people are just moving around without a chief knowing that there is somebody on a community.”

Speaking during the training, Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Banda said despite that the country is registering progress in dealing with the vice, more needs to be done especially on collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

“The increase is always there, what is more important is that countries should be alert Malawi we have done quite well in terms of been alert,” he said.

“We are winning that battle, but I think we have so much to do, we can improve what we are doing now, coming into the new year I think we are going to do more when it comes to collaboration with our Chiefs and tighten security in uncharted routes.”