Malawi opens probe on 250 missing passports: Dispatches investigators to South Africa, to quiz Nigerian
Malawi government has opened the investigations into a passport syndicate where a box of 250 blank Malawian passport books got lost in December last year.
Outspoken Mzimba West member of parliament Harry Mkandawire (People’s Party –PP) exposed the ‘passportgate’ in the National Assembly.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Home Adffairs and Internal Security, Sam Madula has disclosed that a team of investigators, who include police officers from fiscal department and Immigration officer, has been dispatched to South Africa and would probe the circumstances for seven days.
Madula said the investigators will be interested to question a Nigerian who posed as a Malawians from Mangochi with passport number MW853507 from the missing passport books.
“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 Parliament.
Madula said Malawi government informed South African government about the intended interrogation of the Nigerian.
He said Lilongwe and Pretoria have agreed to quiz the Nigerian.
“But we are also carrying out pther investigations,” said Madula.
He said government will get to logical conclusion of the investigations.
According to MP Mkandawire, 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.
Mkandawire told parliament that 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.
Peoples Party ( 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.
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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Investigate the Chief Immigration Officer first. Second investigate the printer Teckno Brain. Thirdly investigate the Minister of Home Affairs Grace Chiumia, this girl/lady is not serious with the affairs of this nation called Malawi. Look at how she responded at Mulekezi issue in Parliament? Fourthly investigate the Immigration senior and junior staff. The only unfortunate thing is that we don’t have serious investigating organization because ACB is not functioning organization in Malawi. I also heard about Malawian passport and driving licenses being printed in Durban RSA, so also look into those areas. I suggest that Parliament or Msosas’ team should… Read more »
Why investigate now when the issue was exposed in December 2016? This is too late A Malawi are we patriotic. A PS phwi mu office. It took parliamentarians to announce this racket when the PS and others knew way way back. Shame my Malawi
This has been there since Muluzi time. Malawi and Botswana were only countries nationalities could go to Europe withiout Visa. But Malawi messed up with Malawian passport found with Nigerias, Ghananians and Pakistanians. I reported the matter to Malawi high commission in UK when I met a Nigerian claiming to be Malawian collecting money for opharns. He had Malawian passport talking Nigerian accent NO Chichewa. Pakistanians are holding two citizenship one sold Malawian. Many immigration officials have sold passport to Pakistanians in exchange with building materials. Malawians dont love their country. They sell land to Asians. One day these Indians… Read more »
You are right Zonder. Malawians are stupid…..why selling their country to foreigners? One day they will over power us! Mark my words. In all the cities, the ones benefiting are foreigners…. Mpingwe hill is full of indians even houses are sold to indians. SHAME
Uyu ndiye fodyayo. Patchulidwa Thodi apa?
Petermu Stifal oseketsa kwambiri. Koma anthu ena phuma ndikusadzitsata! A Thodi anachoka kalekale ku Immigration! Kunali a Mankhwala anachoka, lero kuli Masauko Medi ndi amene anasainila ma blank passport operewerawo. Tidzizitsata a Malawi before we comment, adzakusumirani anthu ena.
250 blank passports what are they for? Amalawi paliponre katangale dziko litukuka bwanji? Rubbish DPP government.
Medi is supposed to b arrested.
Printer should tell the country where the dropped the box.
The other culprit is there
STUPID GOVERNMENT
this is a jock, mwati South Africa to investigate the Issue pamene a Thodi signed for them zosakwanila……it doesn’t make any sense to me…….NDE AFROBAROMETER IKAMATI MALAWIANS HAS LOST IN ITS LEADERSHIP MUZITSUTSA SHAME ON U GUYS, MUKUSOWA KUBA PANO MWATHAWILA KU MA PASSPORT. MBAVA.
Investigate within you will be surprised!!