Malawi govt fails to explain passport mishap
Malawi government has started re-issuing passports after a considerable period of failing to do so for allegedly lack of books ,, that are used in the process of printing the passports, Nyasa Times has established.
But the Immigration department has not come out clearly on why s vuch an occurrence took place.
Malawians for the past many weeks have suffered a severe blow from the Immigration department, with some of them missing out on important international private errands.
One of the victims of the passport mess who conducts business between South Africa and Malawi said the fracas has hit his business hard.
“I missed a lot of business opportunities during that time [when there was the passport problem]. I think we need a good explanation on why it was happening,” said the victim who asked his name not to be printed.
But Chief Immigration Officer Hudson Mankhwala only thanked Malawians for persevering, according to public broadcaster MBC.
“As a department, we would like to thank all Malawians for any inconveniences. Right now, I can assure Malawians that the passports have started being issued in our branches of Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu,” said Mankhwala.
Last November Nyasa Times had reported that the passport was as a result of passport booklets getting soaked in water.
The Department of Immigration has admitted having a backlog of passport applications due to an increase in applicants it receives on daily basis.
