Immigration Officers to carry firearms under new bill

By Delisa Magagula

The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed that immigration officers could soon be armed under sweeping changes proposed in the revised Immigration Bill the first major update to the country’s immigration laws in more than four decades.

The proposal was revealed during a workshop with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs held at The Happy Valley on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

The session focused on the review of the Immigration Bill, which dates back more than 40 years and is now undergoing a complete overhaul to align with current realities.

According to Section 17, Subsection 2 of the draft Bill, an immigration officer may be permitted to carry a government-issued firearm as determined by the Director in consultation with the National Commissioner of Police.

The clause sparked intense debate among Members of Parliament, with differing opinions on whether immigration officers should be armed while on duty.

Minister of Home Affairs HRH Princess Lindiwe defended the inclusion of the clause, saying it was part of broader reforms to strengthen border control and enhance national security.

“When a law outlives its purpose, it becomes a loophole instead of a safeguard. This Bill is over 40 years old. It needs to be reviewed to reflect modern realities and ensure that our officers are well equipped to protect our borders effectively,” said Dlamini.

She added that while the Bill allows for immigration officers to carry firearms, this would not take effect immediately.

“The inclusion of the provision does not mean that the officers will be armed right away. The implementation will depend on future circumstances.

The law may be in place now, but whether it becomes active in five or ten years will depend on the needs of that time,” said the Princess.

The Minister emphasized that the proposed amendment is a proactive measure to prepare the immigration department for potential future security challenges.

Meanwhile Home Affairs Communications Officer, Mlandvo Dlamini, echoed the Minister’s statement, explaining that the clause was not an instruction but a provision to ensure readiness.

“The Bill provides for this as a legal framework, not as an immediate order. It doesn’t mean that once the Bill is passed, all immigration officers will instantly be carrying guns.

It’s simply making sure that if the need arises, there’s already a law in place to regulate it,” he said.

The provision drew mixed reactions from members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, who raised questions about necessity, training, and implementation.

Mtfongwaneni MP Mdockies questioned why immigration officers needed firearms at all, saying he was not convinced by the justification provided.

“I need a stronger reason as to why immigration officers should carry firearms. We have to ask ourselves whether there are indicators that warrant such a measure. I don’t see any, not now and not in the near future,” he said.

Mdockies added that the role of immigration officers should remain focused on enforcing immigration laws, not taking on functions that align more closely with law enforcement agencies.

Other members of the committee, including MPs from the Hhohho Region and Tsembeni Magongo, raised concerns about the risks associated with arming civil officers and stressed the importance of proper training if the law is ever implemented.

“If we are to go down this road, there has to be proper training. Those given firearms must be disciplined and must go through rigorous training perhaps the same kind of training our military officers undergo.

We cannot just hand out guns without ensuring responsibility and restraint,” said Magongo.

Several MPs also referenced other countries that do not permit immigration officers to carry firearms, warning against adopting a policy that could blur the lines between immigration enforcement and policing.

“We must not compare ourselves blindly to other nations,” one Hhohho regional MP said during the discussion.

Despite the concerns, Minister Dlamini assured the committee that the provision was meant to empower the Ministry to act decisively should future conditions require heightened security measures.

“The global landscape is changing. Borders are becoming more complex, and we must be ready. This Bill ensures that we are not caught unprepared in the years to come,” said Dlamini.

The workshop also touched on other key elements of the revised Bill, including stricter vetting of residency applications and measures to curb the misuse of Eswatini’s national identification system by foreign nationals.

Minister Dlamini said one of the Ministry’s biggest concerns was the increasing number of foreign nationals particularly of Indian descent who now possess national identity cards and have been granted residency or citizenship through unclear processes.

“We have seen a rise in cases where foreigners are holding national ID cards. This Bill will address that by tightening procedures and ensuring that only those who meet the legal requirements are granted residency or nationality,” said the Minister.

The Minister said the aim of the revised Bill is to close gaps in the current law that have allowed unregulated entry, unauthorized residency, and identity misuse.

“We must re-examine how people are gaining entry into the country and how they are being granted citizenship or permanent residency. The Bill will introduce tougher scrutiny and bring order where there has been inconsistency,” she said.

Members of the Portfolio Committee welcomed the Minister’s commitment to reform, saying the Bill must protect the country from irregular migration while ensuring transparency and accountability in how immigration matters are handled.

“The consensus is that this Bill must regulate and monitor the process of granting nationality and residency,” said one committee member.

Worth noting, the new Immigration Bill, once passed, is expected to replace legislation that has been in effect since the early 1980s.

The Ministry of Home Affairs says the revised law will align immigration practices with the nation’s development goals and strengthen national security without compromising human rights or administrative fairness.

Minister Dlamini concluded by reiterating that the Ministry’s goal is not to militarize immigration but to ensure preparedness.

“We are modernizing the system. This Bill is about ensuring our officers are equipped, our borders are secure, and our laws are relevant to the times we live in,” concluded the Minister.

The workshop ended with the committee agreeing to continue consultations before the Bill is tabled in Parliament for debate.