Mwanza Central Felix Njawala legislator (UTM Party) has called on the Ministry of Homeland Security to digitise passport processing by introducing an electronic tracking system to allow applicants to monitor progress of their applications online.
He suggested that applicants should be able to track their passport applications through SMS, WhatsApp, a mobile application or a designated online portal.
In a question to Minister of Homeland Security Peter Mukhito in Parliament, the legislator said such a system would reduce direct interaction between passport applicants and Immigration Department officials, thereby helping to curb corruption.
interaction: Njawala.
| Jacob Nankhonya
In response, Mukhito said government was already developing a digital tracking system with exactly that objective.
He said consultations were at an advanced stage and that government was developing the operational framework for the system.
Said Mukhito: “The digitisation of passport services is a critical measure to mitigate risks associated with delays and reduce cases of corruption because it will minimise interaction between applicants and officers.
“I wish to assure this House that government remains committed to serving the people and providing security services.”
Njawala also proposed the introduction of a queue management system under which applicants would receive a reference number indicating the order in which passports would be processed and issued.
He said: “The Immigration Department can introduce a queuing system where, after an application is submitted, a number is issued to guide the sequence in which passports are processed.”
In August last year, former Homeland Security minister Ezekiel Ching’oma estimated passport printing backlog at over 100 000, mainly due to lack of forex for importing passport booklets and other consumables.
