Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Times News
Published on 2024-04-06 06:43:33
After the Immigration Department promised improved passport processing following a system hack, chaos was still prevalent at the Lilongwe office. Our investigation revealed a disorganized and overwhelming scene at the premises.
Arriving at the Immigration Department offices in Lilongwe on a sunny Thursday morning, we were met with a large crowd of people scrambling for their chance to enter the offices. The premises were packed with individuals, making it difficult to access the main entrance. Two officers were seen struggling to control the crowd and allow entry to those with completed application forms and payment receipts.
Some applicants shared their frustrations, stating that despite repeated visits, their names were not being called to submit their forms. This led to attempts to hand the forms directly to the chief passport officer amidst the chaos. Middlemen were also present, offering to assist for a hefty fee, taking advantage of the desperate situation.
Reports of corruption surfaced, with middlemen exploiting applicants and providing false promises in return for large sums of money. Some individuals claimed to have paid bribes to Immigration officials in hopes of expediting their passport processing. Applicants who applied for passports as far back as 2022 and 2023 expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress and demanded attention to their cases before accommodating new applicants.
During our observation, it was evident that the department had not recovered applicants’ data lost during the system hack in February. As a result, individuals were asked to resubmit their forms multiple times, leading to frustration and additional expenses. Despite attempts to present our findings to officials, we faced challenges accessing key personnel or receiving definitive responses to our inquiries.
Immigration PRO Wellington Chiponde was unable to provide immediate answers to our questions regarding the number of passports printed daily, regional printing schedules, efforts to address middlemen, and concerns over application forms. Chiponde requested a questionnaire, which we promptly sent, but unfortunately, we did not receive a response.
The situation at the Lilongwe office highlighted inefficiencies, corruption, and a lack of transparency in the passport processing system. Applicants were left in limbo, facing delays, financial burdens, and uncertainty. The need for urgent intervention to address these issues and restore trust in the Immigration Department’s operations is paramount for the well-being of passport seekers and the integrity of the process.
Read the original article on The Times
