Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Serah Makondesa Chilora
Published on 2024-04-06 05:02:01
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services in Malawi recently announced the resumption of passport issuance from its Lilongwe office, with plans to roll out the service nationally. However, nearly a month later, people in regional offices are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress.
A visit to the Blantyre office revealed that there was no tangible progress on the ground. People who were camping outside the office in the hope of receiving their passports stated that this had been the situation since the government’s announcement last month. Edward Kambanje, a concerned individual who had even led demonstrations on the issue, emphasized the significant impact this delay was having on Malawians.
Kambanje pointed out that passports are no longer just used for identification, but have become essential for various activities such as business, travel for better opportunities, and accessing medical treatment abroad. He stressed that the inability to obtain passports was severely affecting many individuals and urged the government to take action.
Furthermore, Kambanje reported that there were allegations of people paying for express passport services but not receiving them, raising concerns about the transparency and efficiency of the process. Osward Juma from Mangochi echoed Kambanje’s sentiments, stating that there was a similar lack of progress at the Eastern Region department.
Juma highlighted the struggles faced by individuals in Mangochi, particularly those who rely on cross-border trade with South Africa for their livelihoods. He mentioned that many people had filled out forms for passports, but had not seen any progress in their applications. Juma also noted the frustration of individuals who were asked to take their forms to Lilongwe, only to find out that nothing was being processed there either.
The situation was no different in Mzuzu, where Wellington Chiponde declined to respond to inquiries about the passport services. Gift Trapence from Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) and Charles Kajoloweka from Youth and Society (Yas) criticized the government’s handling of the passport issuance process.
Trapence described the situation as a disservice to Malawians and called on the President to intervene and resolve the crisis. Kajoloweka emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue and urged the authorities to take decisive action to rectify the situation that was negatively impacting both individual lives and the economy.
In conclusion, the delays and inefficiencies in passport issuance in Malawi have caused frustration and inconvenience to many citizens. The lack of progress in regional offices, coupled with allegations of unfair practices, has raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the Department of Immigration. Urgent action is needed to address this crisis and ensure that Malawians can access essential services without unnecessary delays.
Read the original article on The Times
