By Chisomo Phiri

Barely a day after the announcement of the E-passport Issuance System restoration at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the law enforcement agencies in the country to immediately investigate the cyber attack that collapsed this system.

Chakwera said this on Wednesday at Mzuzu State Lodge after discussions with Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma.

The President said that those found to be  responsible for the offense should be brought to book.

“I want law enforcement agencies to immediately establish investigation into the attack of the E-passport Issuance System at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services. Those found guilty of the offence should face the long arm of the law,” said Chakwera.

On his part, minister Ng’oma said it is pleasing to note that the resumption of the printing of the travel documents has brought excitement to Malawians who were waiting for their passports.

“Malawians are happy that the system has been restored. We have fought a good fight for all this to be achieved,”said Ng’oma.

The Department of Immigration announced in January that it was facing technical glitches which had affected passport printing.

Last month, weeks after passport printing had stopped, President Chakwera told parliament  that a cyberattack had led to the shutdown of the system.

However, on Tuesday this week, the department announced that it has resumed printing of passports after restoration of the system which collapsed after being hacked  a couple of weeks ago.