The Malawi government said Wednesday it is moving urgently to end persistent passport delays, which have left citizens unable to pursue jobs, education, medical care and business dealings, after disturbances at a Lilongwe immigration office left an officer injured and property damaged. Homeland Security Minister Peter Mukhito said in a statement that the ministry is […]
Tempers boiled over at the Immigration Department’s regional headquarters in Lilongwe after frustrated passport applicants clashed with officials over persistent delays in the printing of travel documents. Anger had reportedly been building since Monday, with scores of applicants complaining they had been left waiting for passports while immigration officials allegedly blamed ongoing network problems for […]
Malawi’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has run out of passport booklets — leaving desperate applicants without their vital travel documents for months and sparking fresh fears over the government’s ability to deliver even the most basic of public services. An investigation has revealed the department has, for several weeks, been unable to issue […]
Minister of Homeland Security Peter Mukhito has commended security personnel across the Northern Region for their unwavering dedication under demanding working conditions, while acknowledging severe systemic bottlenecks—including halted passport issuance and overcrowding in prisons—that continue to cripple public service delivery. Speaking during an extensive inspection tour across northern districts including Karonga, Nkhata Bay, and Mzuzu, […]
Malawi’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has confirmed that investigations into a widespread passport fraud scheme involving middlemen and, disturbingly, officers within its own ranks are now at an advanced stage, with several suspects already in police custody. Department spokesperson Pasqually Zulu revealed the immigration service is deeply concerned by mounting reports of passport […]
Malawi’s passport system has ground to a complete standstill — leaving desperate applicants stranded without travel documents for a full week, as ageing machines break down and booklets run dry. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has produced not a single passport in seven days, insiders claim, plunging travellers hoping to go abroad for […]
Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Banda has insisted that the election campaign promise of non-renewable passport at K14 000 will still be implemented but that government has delayed because the new administration found a passport deal worth $60 billion (K90 billion) which the DPP administration signed with a passport supplier; hence, is waiting for […]
Officials at the Immigration Department say the much anticipated e-passport will not be rolled out in January 2021 as planned. Immigration department spokesperson Joseph Chauwa said this was due to some challenges faced due to Covid-19. He could however not say the exact date when the e-passport will roll out. Chauwa, however, said reveal the […]
Government says it has stopped issuing the after sought diplomatic passports to religious leaders. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Rejoice Chaponda Shumba said the change of policy in stopping the issuance of the diplomatic passports to religious leaders was effected after the change of government. She said this has nothing to do with the issues […]
The High Court in Lilongwe has sentenced former cabinet minister Uladi Mussa to six years in jail after he was found guilty in a corruption trial linked to the passport case. Mussa, who served as Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security during the two-year tenure of president Joyce Banda between April 2012 and May […]
The High Court in Lilongwe has convicted Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice-president (centre) Uladi Mussa and former Regional Immigration Officer, David Kwanjana for awarding Malawian passports to foreigners. Judge Chifundo Kachale has since reserved the sentencing in the case to next week. Mussa, has been found guilty to have authorised the issuing of passports to […]
Immigration Department and Citizenship Services Deputy Public Relations Officer, Wellington Chiponde says over 3,000 travel documents have been issued using the newly introduced e-passport system. The department launched electronic passport system in December, last year (2019) which replaces Machine Readable Zone passports. The new system was introduced to meet international Civil Aviation Organisation requirement to […]
Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services is finally moving from the machine readable zone (MRZ) passports to electronic passports (e-passports) along with new fees effective next week Tuesday, January 14 2019, it has been confirmed. Immigration Department spokesperson Joseph Chauwa said the e-passport is aimed at meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation security requirements which seek […]
Department of Immigration and Citizenship Servicessays it has shut down its offices for new passport applicants as it is migrating from machine readable passports to e-passports aimed at meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation security requirements which seek to enhance security. An e-passport is the same as a traditional one with the addition of a small […]
If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in the state or province, do not marvel at the matter. [Be sure that there are those who will attend to it] for a higher [official] than the high is observing, and higher ones are over them. — Ecclesiastes 5:8 The Malawi […]
Malawi goes e-passport in January as it rolls out new electronic passport at a fee of US$100. Immigration department spokesperson Joseph Chauwa says the usual passport booklets will now be phased out in line with international standards. “All passport holders and new applicants will pay US$100 to secure the e-passport,” said Chauwa. Chauwa said the […]
High Court in Lilongwe has adjourned to January 14, 2020 hearing of the case in which former minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Uladi Mussa is accused of issuing passports to foreign national. Mussa, who is also the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice-president for the Centre, is accused of illegally issuing Malawian passports […]
Former Homeland Security minister Uladi Mussa has told the High Court in Lilongwe that no one, not even the courts have powers to question why and how a minister’s decision to approve or reject an application for citizenship. Mussa said this on Tuesday as the state continued to accuse him of dubiously granting Malawian passports […]