Malawi to roll out ID card project 2016 –Mutharika

Malawi will roll out its national identity project next year on a pilot basis but in 2017 all citizens will have ID cards, said President Peter Mutharika in the capital, Lilongwe on Friday where he delivered an opening address at the start of the 46th session of parliament on Friday.

The government is expected to contract private firms of international repute to carry out jobs that involve technical expertise in the development of a computerised national identification and registration system.

The system will ensure that all Malawians above 16 years of age and resident foreigners have identity card

“ Government has commenced the process of issuing National Identity Cards,” Mutharika told the 193-member house.

“ We intend to issue the first 5,000 ID cards by February 2016 on a pilot basis. The issuance of ID cards to all citizens will be rolled out in 2017,” he said.

Mutharika said Malawi , which has a population of over 16 million,” has waited for this important facility for too long.”

The project is also meant to enable government and stakeholders to process the country’s emigration and immigration data.