‘Passportgate’ disgraces Malawi: Brazil arrest drug traffickers with Malawian booklets
The issue of “missing” 250 blank passport booklets is disgracing Malawi in the international world with reports that Brazil has been holding drug traffickers holding the Malawian passports.
However, the Malawi Embassy in Brazil indicate that the drug dealers who were part of a massive international narcotic syndicate, were not Malawian citizens but using the passport obtained in fraudulent way.
“Criminals are giving Malawi a bad name because of getting false documents and committing crimes ,” said an officer at Malawi Embassy in Brazil.
The Embassy confirmed that a woman called Priscilla Chilombo, with Malawian passport. was arrested in Brazilian city of Sao Paulo in February for alleged drug trafficking and the court hearing will take place on july 20 2017.
The issue of missing passport books came to light in Parliament on May 18 this year when Mzimba West MP Harry Mkandawire (People’s Party-PP) raised it.
He told the National Assembly that a Nigerian national, who posed as a Malawian answering to the name Vincent Banda from Mangoch, was arrested after being found using one of the missing passports numbered MW 853507 on his way to London in the United Kingdom (UK).
The legislator presented copies of Banda’s travel document.
According to Mkandawire, on December 29 2016 the Department of Immigration received a consignment of passport books from Techno Brain Printers, the supplier of the books, whose quantity was short with one box containing 250 blank passports.
Mkandawire claimed that Chief Immigration Officer Masauko Medi went ahead to sign for the less quantity after his stores officer had reportedly refused to do so. The serial numbers of the missing passports were from MW 853501 to 853750.
Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Grace Chiumia confirmed knowledge of the issue and the syndicate and told Parliament that the matter was already being investigated.
She said upon the discovery that the 250 passports were missing, government alerted all countries in the world and shared serial numbers for the missing passport booklets.
Chiumia also said all the missing passports had since been declared null and void.
But before parliament adjourned, Member of Palriament (MP) for Mzimba North Agness Nyalonje (People’s Party –PP) wondered why there was no ministerial statement before the House rose.
Nyalonje said it was disturbing th hear reports that a Nigerian linked to the missing of the passports has been released in South Africa to concel information because some government officials were involved in the passportgate.
“We are very concerned, We demand transparency and accountability in how government is hadling investigations into this matter,” said Nyalonje.
But Chiumia said her ministry was still gathering information on the missing passports.
“We have got some information, but there is more information which we are getting, and therefore I didn’t want to give half-baked information, here. But the information will be given. If it is going to be published in the newspaper you will get the information. But otherwise, there is a lot which is coming up and we have got all the information and you will be surprised by the time we bring the information to the House,” she said.
Some MPs also proposed that the parliamentary committees on Defence and Security and that of Government Assurances, which is also chaired by Mkandawire, should investigate the matter.
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Let’s take this issue like Chaponda maize until the Dishonourable Minister resigns. Heads should roll. Enough is enough.
For information of the nation, Medi knows nothing about passport. He is an ordinary. Police officer in immigration. Uniform like a wolf in goat skin.
Peter, do something. Mukhoza is cheating you.
Medi doesn’t know anything really? He is a cop and detective! Where do immigration officers get their training? At police colleges! Just wait for your turn
Mr Medi.. Akufuna kukutcholani nkhosi uyu thru media ndipo musamale naye.
U r runnig ths dprtmnt bhoo bhoo.
To demand ministers to resign in malawi after they have messed up its like asking a river to flow backwards, but truth be told here the government is covering up and have really done a botched up job and heads should roll but being in malawi probably nothing will happen and it will be business as usual
Achoke basi isaaaa kuba basi boma la DPP shupiti
The minister knows the big fish involved akuopa kumuchula
Please our dear leaders kindly show seriousness when handling issues of national importance.the issue of missing blank passports is a very serious issue that required some kind of seriousness and why up to date the investigation into the matter has not been done let alone the ministerial statement. This is giving a very bad picture to the nation and its people. Why receiving the consignment with full knowledge of the missing blank passports?please Mr chief immigration officer be serious.
HA HA HA.
malawians have theft int their blood. any chance of blaming the mwenye?????
maizegate was you,
cashgate was u
passgate is you
chiwereweregate is you
hule gate is u
bottlestore gate is you.
when you fail you cry that the amyenye are robbing the country shame on u fools.
HA HA HA
Disgraceful. Medi signs for delivery of a consignment his stores officer refused to sign for after noticing s quantity was missing. Obviously Medi new something and is therefore part of the racquet. Unfortunately you can’t touch him as he is part of the ruthless, heartless Lhomwe belt gang bent on fleecing Malawi using whatever means. There is so much evil in this country. Is it any wonder lawlessness is the order of the day; we have so many fatal accidents on the roads; disregard for human dignity is on the increase… and so on? God is very angry with Malawi… Read more »
Medi is not Lomwe
Malawi on Sale to the corrupt! Vote the the current leaders out or they are taking you down in style