Malawi launches high performance ID printers, Zikhale orders NRB to clear backlog
Minister of Homeland security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma ordered NRB to clear all the outstanding backlog of Identification cards.
This follows commissioning of high performance printing equipment of the National Identification cards at the function which took place at Capital Hill.
Zikhale said the Commissioning of the High-Performance National ID Printer at NRB offices is a major milestone towards improving service delivery at NRB.
He said “The National ID High Performance Printer is not just a game changer, it in fact saves the much needed government resources when it comes to the production cost of the National ID cards,” he said.
He said his Ministry is very much supportive of this change in technology of the printers that NRB is supposed to be using from now onwards.
He said in 2025 Malawi will hold general elections, and considering that several stakeholders have expressed concerns about the NRB readiness to support the elections, Zikhale has since ordered NRB to print the backlog of National ID card records outside the country.
“Am glad to say that the PS for NRB has indicated that they have so far finallized the printing of one million cards outside the country and register all the remaining citizens through a Mop Up exercise. Plans have also been finalized,” he said.
Zikhale commended CDC for the procurement of the equipment.
NRB Principal Secretary Mphatso Sambo said the launch of the printers will help to clear huge backlog of cards because the available printing machines could not manage to print
Before this printer , NRB was printing only 3,200 but now they will be printing 15,000 cards per day.
Sambo said NRB is waiting for another printer which is said to be on its way. Sambo said CCDC has done alot to support procurement of the printers.
CCDC Country director Dr Verita Buie said the US Government will continue supporting the NRB to improve service delivery. She said the time of waiting will be reduced by 65% .
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