In a sensational headline, the front page of Malawi News on March 2nd, 2024 screamed ‘Passport Data Lost,’ alleging a dire situation where the Immigration Department purportedly lost all passport data, necessitating Malawians to undergo the renewal process from scratch upon passport expiration.
However, the Immigration Department swiftly responded with a statement on Saturday, vehemently refuting the sensational claims.
According to the statement which has been signed by National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent Wellington Chiponde, “these allegations are without merit and inappropriate considering the progress that has been made, especially now that Malawi citizens are looking forward to the quick resumption of passport services.”
“It is without question that all matters relating to passports are very sensational and have a bearing on national security, social and economic development, and the integrity that is attached to the passport as a trusted international travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the respective holder. As such, spreading unnecessary false information regarding the Malawi passport only seek to cause unnecessary panic,” reads the statement in part.
The statement further stated that the Department is committed in remaining within the specified timelines of resuming the provision of passport services as per the directive of President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera who gave a three weeks ultimatum.
The statement concludes by encouraging the media to verify information through the Departments’ appropriate channels and desist from spreading false and misleading information in order to avoid creating unnecessary panic amongst Malawians and the general public at large.
