250 Malawi passports missing, one found with Nigerian arrested in SA: MP Mkandawire exposes syndicate in parliament, Chief Immig under fire

Outspoken Mzimba West  member of parliament  Harry Mkandawire (People’s Party –PP) on Thursday exposed a passport syndicate in the National Assembly when he disclosed that a box of 250 blank Malawian passports  got lost in December last year.

Chiumia: We are investigating
MP Mkandawire: Brought the issue to parliament
Medi: Chief Immigration Officer should be investigated

He told the House that on December 29 2016, the Department of Immigration received a consignment of passports from Technobrain, the supplier of the books, whose quantity was short with one box containing 250 blank passports.

According to the MP, Chief Immigration officer Masauko Medi signed for the consignment even though one box was missing as earlier the stores officer refused to sign for the same consignment.

“The Chief Immigration Officer signed for these passports. The crime is starting from that juncture,” said Mkandawire.

He asked Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to take Chief Immigration Officer to task.

“There is something fishy here,” said Mkandawire.

Mkandawire presented to the House objective material information on the missing blank Malawian passports, saying the missing serial numbers of the books were from MW853501 to 853750.

He said it was later discovered that one of the missing passports was issued to a Nigerian who posed as a Malawians from Mangochi with passport number MW853507.

“The Nigerian used the name Vincent Banda from Mangochi, meaning that 249 passports are still out there. Banda was arrested in South Africa en-route to UK, he was smuggling some goods,” Mkandawire told the House.

Mkandawire said the matter poses a security threat to the country.

Karonga Central MP Frank Mwenifumbo (Aford) agreed on ecurity concerns and said Malawi is being threatened by terrorists disguised as refugees which government want to relocate them to Karonga.

“There are terrorists from groups like al Shabab who are hiding in this country. They have been found with guns and we are not sure whether these cannpt be given passports because it seems everyone can get a passport in Malawi,” said Mwenifumbo.

Another PP legislator Ralph Jooma from Mangochi Monkey Bay called for Chief Immigration officer Medi to be investigated as he signed for the consignment with missing passport books.

Minister Chiumia told parliament that government was aware of the syndicate and that she will present to the House a ministerial statement on the matter.

“We are investigating the issue,” Chiumia said.

She disclosed that passport numbers from MW 853501 to 853750 have been declared null and void.

“We are sending officers to South Africa to investigate further,” Chiumia told parliament.

“We will have  to find out how he [the Nigerian ] got the passport and who is behind this racket. Once we know who is behind this, they will face the law,” said Chiumia.

Chiumia refused to give detailed information fearing it would “jeopardise investigations.”

But Mkandawire proposed that the parliamentary committee on Defence and Security  -which he chairs –  should be manadated to investigate the matter, saying government cannot be trusted because it seems to be  “party to the racket.”

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Lloyd
Lloyd
6 years ago

I think its true that our parliament is working tirelessly to fulfill what Malawians want NOT the ACB, their roll is not transparent

Mzakwacha Nixon
Mzakwacha Nixon
6 years ago

Grace,IG,YOU MUST EXPLAIN.YOU HAVE FAILED LIKE WISE THE SO CALLED PRESIDENT.MALAWI WILL NEVER CHANGE.STUPID LEADERS.MISUNDU YINU.MZAKWACHA IN PRETORIA.+27724922299

NGINDE
6 years ago

bwana amene boma lamutumiza kuti akagwire ntchito ya immigration ku RSA ndi wamadilu oopsa wakatangale oopsa

Panganani
6 years ago

I appeal to the President to fire the Minister of Home Affairs, Inspector General of Police and Chief Immigration Officer. Subsequent to this, there should be a special Parliamentary committee to investigate this because the Police or Immigration or NIB cannot be trusted. Anthuwa ndi MBAVA kwamtheradi.In as long as we are under DPP, expect worse than this.

Wilfried Maluwa
Wilfried Maluwa
6 years ago

Malawi is a rotten nation. It starts with those on the top. When parents misbehaves, they can longer control their children, so to Malawi style. For example cashgaters followed by maizegaters and those still in caves including the passportgaters. Malawi is no more a God fearing nation, we are just insulting God by calling ourselves God fearers. STOP!!!!!! Za manyazi. Ukapita ku maiko ena ungoti ndie wa kuMalawi anthu amangoti scientific thieves chikhalirecho zianthu zake zophunzira bwino. Khalani achitsanzo kuti ana akule ndi khalidwe loganizira kukweza dzikoli mwa njira zachilungamo kudzera ku madalitso a Mulungu. Haaa tsoka kwa inu nonse… Read more »

Thanga lamoto
Thanga lamoto
6 years ago

Kaziko komvetsa chisoni you selling passport to drug dealers mmmmmm it’s shame mbiri yathu inayipa amalawi maiko akunja becoz ov these Nigerians pretending like they are malawi citizens

President Mkango Lion Chivomorezi Chisokonezo Manthakanjenjemereza
President Mkango Lion Chivomorezi Chisokonezo Manthakanjenjemereza
6 years ago

Ku Malawi Katangale sadzatha ngati muyika unjust system in wages and salaries. Think of ps getting over 1million while another is getting k40 000, so should that one find another way to survive dont blame him, but it is the begining of corruption

Achimidzimidzi
Achimidzimidzi
6 years ago

“She disclosed that passport numbers from MW 853501 to 853750 have been declared null and void.”

where did you publicize that above serial numbers are nullified, Hon Chiumia? This is a lie

cuty
cuty
6 years ago

malawi is one of the countries that other nationals easily take advantage when it comes to passport. look at southafrica for example the hardest thing to do is to get thyr passports or IDs..lets work hand in hand as malawians cos we are getting bad names due to stolen identity.

benjones
6 years ago

All foreigners irrespective are holding Malawian passport.

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