Mangochi passport printing resumes

Passport applicants in Malawi could finally see faster processing of their travel documents after the government resumed passport printing services in Mangochi.

Minister of Homeland Security Peter Mukhito made the announcement in Parliament on Monday while responding to concerns over prolonged delays in passport processing raised by Mwanza Central Member of Parliament Felix Njawala.

“We have managed again to restore our printing services in Mangochi. We are able to print passports in Mangochi,” Mukhito told the House.

The minister acknowledged the difficulties applicants continue to face, saying government is aware of the frustrations caused by long waiting periods and is working to improve service delivery.

Mukhito made the announcement

“We feel the pain which most passport applicants are going through, and it is our wish to make sure that we do as much as we can to alleviate those problems,” he said.

Mukhito also disclosed that government is stabilising the country’s new passport system before introducing digital tracking features, including SMS notifications, online portals and WhatsApp integration to improve transparency and efficiency.

The announcement came after Njawala proposed the introduction of a numbered queuing system for passport applications, arguing that the current process has allowed some people who applied later to receive passports ahead of those who have waited for up to a year.

Responding to the proposal, Mukhito described it as “a very, very good idea” and said his ministry would engage the Ministry of Information through the e-Government programme to explore implementing the system while broader reforms to passport services continue.