Malawi just hired a new company called Madras Security Printers to make better passports with tougher security features. The government signed a five-year deal worth K52 billion. The Immigration Department thinks this change will solve many passport problems that citizens have faced for years.
Wellington Chiponde speaks for the Immigration Department. He says Madras will design and set up a brand new electronic system for making passports. They'll handle everything from creating the actual booklets to supplying all the needed materials. The company promised they would fix current passport issues fast.
Chiponde wants everyone to know these new passports match what the United Nations expects. The International Civil Aviation Organization sets rules for travel documents, and Malawi plans to meet every standard. The country also added helpful features like paying online and bringing photo equipment directly to neighborhoods.
This passport upgrade comes at the perfect time because the United States recently put Malawi on a warning list. The US gave Malawi only 60 days to fix several big problems. These include not sharing enough information about travelers, having passports that are easy to fake, and selling citizenship to people from countries under travel bans.
Wellington Chiponde speaks for the Immigration Department. He says Madras will design and set up a brand new electronic system for making passports. They'll handle everything from creating the actual booklets to supplying all the needed materials. The company promised they would fix current passport issues fast.
Chiponde wants everyone to know these new passports match what the United Nations expects. The International Civil Aviation Organization sets rules for travel documents, and Malawi plans to meet every standard. The country also added helpful features like paying online and bringing photo equipment directly to neighborhoods.
This passport upgrade comes at the perfect time because the United States recently put Malawi on a warning list. The US gave Malawi only 60 days to fix several big problems. These include not sharing enough information about travelers, having passports that are easy to fake, and selling citizenship to people from countries under travel bans.
