By Linda Kwanjana
Malawians can now breathe a sigh of relief as the country’s passport problems are finally being addressed. The new supplier, Madras Security Private Printers, has started producing an average of 1,000 passports every week.
For months, many citizens struggled to get passports due to supply delays, with some waiting weeks or even months for the travel document. The new company says it will quickly clear the backlog, beginning with the first 1,000 booklets already produced.
Since President Lazarus Chakwera came into office in 2020, government has been working to fix long-standing problems at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services. In the past, contracts for passport suppliers were awarded through corruption, with some officials choosing companies based on bribes rather than capacity.
One such deal was with Techno Brain, signed in 2019 under the former administration. The contract, worth $60.8 million (about K106 billion), was later cancelled by Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, who said it was irregular and costly.
After a period of confusion and delays, government hired Madras Security Private Printers in January 2025 on a $29.9 million (K52.7 billion) contract—less than half the cost of the previous deal.
The India-based company, which has 42 years of experience in biometric and security printing, was chosen for its strong global record. Government says this deal will end the passport shortage for good, while giving the Department of Immigration full control of the system—something past suppliers never allowed.
The new passports also come with modern security features that meet international aviation standards.
With production now underway, authorities are confident that all outstanding applications will be processed soon, finally putting to rest the passport crisis that has frustrated Malawians for years.
