UK visa ‘shambles’: Malawi Queens, won’t play England in Liverpool
Malawi Queens will not be able to fulfil the first tie of the three-netball match series with England on Sunday at Liverpool’s Echo Arena after a delay to receive their visas in time for travel but will be able to play the two remaining fixtures.
There has been criticism on the way UK visa application for Malawians are handled.
Recently, Members of the House of Lords, the upper house of the UK Parliament called for a fit for purpose visa applications to the UK by Malawians and asked their government to remove the current “disproportionate” red tape .
Lord Jack McConnell, who is former Scotland First Minister said the system is “dysfunctional” and that it is “certainly disproportion.”
The Malawi Queens travelling squad has been the victims of the bureaucratic nightmare the visa application , forcing the team to miss the Sunday match after tickets were already sold to spectators who wanted to watch Malawi play England at Liverpool Echo arena .
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) General Secretary Carol Bapu said the changes would also affect their itinerary.
Bapu said the Queens would leave on Sunday, December 14 instead of Wednesday December 10.
England netball said in a statement seen by Nyasa Times that “due to unforeseen circumstances with visa issues, Malawi are unable to fulfil their opening fixture of the proposed three match Series in Liverpool this Sunday.”
“Having previously received assurances that the issue was resolved, England Netball contacted the Home Office who regrettably informed us that the application had not been made.
“We are currently working extremely hard with the Home Office and the International Netball Federation to ensure that The Queens are able to obtain their visas and travel to play in the final two matches of the Series in London and Worcester.
“Tickets purchased for Sunday’s games remain valid for all spectators.”
Wales have been drafted in as replacement opponents for Sunday’s match, live on Sky Sports
England Netball apologised for “any inconvenience caused” and said they are hopeful Malawi will be able to travel for the remaining fixtures.
The matches are part of the preparation for the 2015 Netball World Cup, which takes place in Australia in August.
- England v Malawi, 17 December – London
- England v Malawi, 20 December – Worcester
Aaah a C Banda,nkhani ya Netball ikugwirizana chani ndi Angelline Mwafulirwa? Zamabi basi,tamapangani za Netball or else get the hell out of Nyasatimes,musatibowepo!
Boyd, you could be wrong my friend after all there is no such a thing as illegal immigrants
Zamanyi red tape nde chaniso nanga nyumba ya lord kodi kulinso mafano eti nanga lord , ifeso akabwera kuno tikambirane za House of bimbi ku khuluvi .
Malawi Football/Netball Associations should start looking for visa services from firms such as Crown Solicitors and Liberty Immigration Services in the UK. These two are prominent diaspora legal firms. Surely, they could assist in expediting applications such as this one.
Talk to them next time……..
I believe those firms work better for illegal immigrants”. The Malawi Queens did not need them. The High Commissioner should have seen the expediency of the trip. This is something that dents the image of the United Kingdom. How long does it take to put those visas and stamp the passport?
This was not last minute thing. Surely the Queens representative in Malawi knew about the travel. Matters could have been expedited and waived even if the Queens had made their application “last minute”. I think it is the mentality of our former masters that is a problem. How long does it take to put that visa in a passport? And why do our queens waste time playing and begging to play England in England? Next time they should just say fotseki, kagwereni uko azungu.
NAM is the culprit. They knew about these games a long time ago, mpaka pano sanapangitse ma visa. Anazolowera kupita ku South Africa basi. Ndiponso ndalama ya ma airtickets alibe, mwina akwera minibus kupita ku England.
Malawi was colonised by Britain and why should the Malawian citizenry struggle to enter the UK? But if its the Briton coming to Malawi they come at any time without hassles. Malawi should focus to other first world countries than UK.
Whats so special there that they are making it so difficult for people to enter that country? its just arrogancy at its best because it is the British who benefited from the colonies than the colonies. They are still benefiting in form of Expertriates getting hefty salaries and good benefits which they impose. Third World countries must also gang up and stop patronising that country, we can do without them thats the truth only that some Africans dont believe in themselves.
Tabwelani tidzanyeko zakumudzi tinazilawa Nkale.
Poor planning. This has always been the issue of our netball team when traveling abroad. They always do things in the last minute. Applying for visas two days before departure. This must be a lesson to them. WAKE UP NAM.