Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Times News
Published on 2024-03-19 08:18:05
By Brenda Kayo:
During a sunny morning in Lilongwe on Monday, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services officials found themselves in a difficult situation as service seekers demanded that their long-awaited passports be printed immediately. This marked a stark contrast to the hope that was ignited just seven days before, on March 12, 2024, when Immigration chief Charles Kalumo announced that the system had been restored from ‘hackers’ and passport issuance would resume, starting in Lilongwe before expanding to other cities with department offices.
Despite the announcement, the passports were nowhere to be seen, leaving frustrated service seekers who gathered at the Immigration office in Lilongwe demanding no excuses but the passports they had applied for. Some demanded the return of the excess K40,000 they paid before the government reduced the passport fee from K90,000 to K50,000. Others insisted on being served faster than the new applicants, a request that Immigration officials did not accommodate.
Instead, an Immigration official suggested restarting the passport application process, with no guarantee of a refund of the additional fee paid. This decision did not sit well with the applicants, leading to a heated exchange of words where no one could hear each other. One service seeker expressed surprise at the department’s directive to restart the process after assuring them that the system had been restored, deeming it unfair.
Another service seeker emphasized the importance of receiving the passport they applied for, rather than a partial refund of the fee paid. Amidst the turmoil, people who had been referred abroad for medical treatment rushed to Lilongwe hoping to receive their passports promptly, only to find themselves still waiting for assistance.
Prior to the 21-day ultimatum set by President Lazarus Chakwera for passport issuance to resume in the country, the department announced the completion of the restoration of the e-passport issuance system. Chakwera had previously addressed Parliament, highlighting the system’s hacking by ‘digital mercenaries’ and demanding a long-term solution within three weeks.
In a statement released on March 12, 2024, Kalumo confirmed the restoration of the system, signaling the resumption of passport issuance. He also announced a 50% reduction in the e-passport fee for local Malawians from K90,000 to K50,000. Despite the positive news, Consumers Association of Malawi Executive Director John Kapito remained cautious, emphasizing the need for actions to match the words spoken by the department.
In conclusion, the situation in Lilongwe highlighted the frustrations of service seekers and the challenges faced by officials in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services. The demand for transparency, efficiency, and timely service delivery remains a priority for both the government and the public as efforts are made to address the passport issuance issues in Malawi.
Read the original article on The Times
