Mangochi NRB offices reopened

Deputy  Minister of Local Government Halima Daud has reopened National Registration Bureau (NRB) offices in Mangochi that were closed due to alleged corrupt practices when processing national identity cards (IDs).

Speaking at the offices on Tuesday, she urged NRB officers to transact their duties diligently.

Daud said she intervened because the councillors who closed the offices fall under her ministry.

She said: “I was in Mangochi doing other government tasks. I talked to the Minister of Homeland Security Jean Sendeza and she gave me permission to go ahead.

“Our aim is to facilitate peace between the councillors and the NRB staff.”

Daud asked the councillors to take their concerns to relevant authorities before making unilateral decisions as closing public offices cripples essential services.

“This office is important because as you can see government is distributing many items that need people to produce IDs. This is why we reopened the offices urgently,” she said.

Daud also warned the officers against corrupt practices, saying the Lazarus Chakwera administration will not condone it.

Mangochi District Council vice-chairperson Hassan Chikuta said they were pleased that their concerns were addressed.

He said their action showed that people in the district were not happy with how the office was operating.

“We thank the deputy minister for her intervention. As a council, we will continue to monitor public officers against any corrupt tendencies,” said Chikuta.

Geoffrey Mandota from Mtalimanja Village in Traditional Authority Mponda hailed the ministry for reopening the offices.

“Previously, it was indeed taking long to have your ID processed. I pray things will change now,” he said.

Mangochi District Council sealed NRB offices last Wednesday following numerous complaints about corruption.