Immigration runs out Malawi passport books due to printing debt

Members of parliament on Tuesday failed to force government to issue a statement of suspension of passport book issuance after it emerged printers have stopped printing the official travel documents until treasury honours a US$22 million debt.

Chitipa South legislator Welani Chilenga and other backbenchers accused the government of torturing its citizens by not telling them the truth that issuance of passport books had been suspended.

Chilenga said unsuspecting Malawians spend long hours at Immigration offices queuing for the passport books not knowing they are no longer issued.

However, Home Affairs minister Jean Kalirani said the printers, Technobrain should resume printing the books any time after treasury released US$7 million to clear part of the debt.

“They committed themselves to start printing after they received the money so this issue is now over, people should not panic,” she said.

The government is facing financial crisis which has seen huge budgetary cuts to some departments and President Peter Mutharika suspending external travel as the economy is facing turbulent waters.