Malawi Immigration Chief Warns Against Corruption Amid Passport Crisis
The commissioner emphasized that Malawians now expect faster passport processing without being asked to pay bribes, which had been reported in some cases.
MANGOCHI, Malawi — Malawi's immigration chief on Friday warned officers against soliciting bribes from passport applicants, addressing concerns that emerged during a recent printing crisis, writes Wendi Mkandawire.
Commissioner of Immigration Vivian Kasambo issued the warning during a meeting with eastern region immigration officers in Mangochi, about 250 kilometres.
"It is wrong to indulge in corruption just because there are a lot of people applying for passports," Kasambo said.
"We expect passport printing to be done on a first-come, first-served basis."
The commissioner emphasized that Malawians now expect faster passport processing without being asked to pay bribes, which had been reported in some cases.
To improve access to passport services, Kasambo revealed plans to open printing offices in additional districts, including Mzimba, Salima, Karonga, and Chikwawa.
The warning comes as Malawi's immigration department works to address backlogs and inefficiencies in passport issuance that have frustrated citizens in recent months.
Kasambo did not provide specific details on the extent of the reported corruption or any disciplinary actions taken against officers found to be soliciting bribes.