Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma says the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services’ new strategic plan will promote economic development, reduce poverty and improve living standards in the country.
Speaking in Lilongwe yesterday when he launched the plan covering the period 2024 to 2029, the minister said the document will play a critical role in securing the country’s borders, facilitating lawful migration and delivering essential services to citizens and visitors, among others.
He said the plan will also help address the challenges faced by the Immigration Department, particularly concerning the issuance of visas and passports by improving accessibility and reducing turnaround times.
Said Ng’oma: “We have already seen some improvements compared to previous months and we want to streamline immigration processes through the adoption of advanced technologies.”
On his part, Commissioner responsible for operations Fletcher Nyirenda said the new strategic plan focuses on delivering customer-centric services, including passports, visas, work permits, and capacity building for border control processes such as automation of processes, among others.
In an interview at the launch, Immigration Commissioner of administration Vivian Kasambo said the previous strategic plan had several gaps such as enhancing the Immigration Department’s visibility on Lake Malawi, improving surveillance and collaborating with other security stakeholders like the Malawi Defence Force and the Malawi Police.
The department’s mandate is guided by the Constitution and governed by the Citizenship Act and the Immigration Act.
