Activists have cautioned that the resumption of passport services must not be mistaken for a favour to citizens, but rather a delayed restoration of their constitutional right to freedom of movement.
On Friday, the Ministry of Homeland Security announced official resumption of passport processing after nearly a year and a half of paralysis.
In an interview, governance and rights activist Benedicto Kondowe said while the shift to a permanent system was commendable, it must mark the end of mismanagement.
“This announcement must not be seen as a favour to citizens, but rather a restoration of a fundamental right of freedom of movement. What Malawians now expect is a system that works without shortcuts and corruption,” he said.
On his part, health rights campaigner Maziko Matemba said the suspension of passport services affected patients needing urgent medical care abroad.
“As civil society and particularly in the health sector, we know of many people who were supposed to travel for treatment but couldn’t because their passports had expired,” he said.
The system, which launched on Thursday in Lilongwe, offers online application and payment options, biometric e-passports, decentralised printing and instant issuance.
It will expand next week to other centres including Mzuzu, Blantyre and Mangochi.
Meanwhile, Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma has assured that all previously paid-for applications will be prioritised and cleared within 21 days.
The new system, developed by Madras Security Printers, replaces a temporary arrangement with E-Tech Systems that was marred by technical failures.
