Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng'oma told Zodiak in an interview that being a strategic place it will put CCTV cameras following reports that some soldiers are mistreating people there.

"We do not have plans to remove the checkpoint simply because it is controlling the influx of illegal immigrants and illegal importation of goods and farm produce to and from Karonga, among other issues,” says Ng’oma.

He added that the government will just improve the facility so that it works for the intended purpose.

Various quarters have been calling for the removal of the checkpoint at Chirumba Barracks in Karonga, claiming some soldiers are harassing civilians, including traders that use the M1.

Civil society organisations held a press briefing in Mzuzu on Thursday where it called for the removal of the checkpoint to reduce tensions between soldiers and civilians.

A representative of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) who was part of the briefing Masauko Thawe said what the Malawi Defence Force soldiers are doing at Chirumba is not within their mandate but rather a role that should be played by the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Revenue Authority.

Said Thawe: "We are receiving several complaints in our organisations with regard to the Chirumba roadblock. We are even ready to mediate between the MDF and traders so that there are no misunderstandings between the two parties.”

The checkpoint at Chirumba Barracks is a stone throw away from where the Malawi Revenue Authority and the police also have a roadblock that is mostly used to check on traders’ compliance with Malawi’s tax requirements.