Ministry of Homeland Security and the Department of Immigration have been urged to exercise caution in the selection of a new passport printing service provider.
The call was made by the Malawi Civil Society Black Economic Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) in Lilongwe.
The movement’s Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba acknowledged efforts made by the ministry and the Department of Immigration in ensuring transparency in the selection of the new service provider.
However, he emphasised that the new provider must have the necessary expertise, experience, and capacity to deliver a secure, efficient, and cost-effective service.
MaBLEM advised against rehiring the previous service provider, citing concerns over their system being compromised during a recent cyber attack.
“It is crucial that any new provider offers not only security and efficiency but also affordability for Malawians,” said Mkwezalamba.
Currently, E Tech is responsible for passport issuance but its a temporary contract and will expire soon.
By Isaac Jali
