A passport can open doors to jobs, scholarships, business and travel, but for some Malawians, those doors remain shut as they wait for documents they have already paid for.
Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman says the National Assembly has received complaints about long queues and delays in receiving passports, as well as allegations of corruption and demands for improper payments.
“Passports are essential for employment, education, trade and travel,” Suleman said, stressing the need for Parliament to scrutinise the service.
The concerns have prompted Parliament to launch an inquiry through the Committees on Defence and Security, Social and Community Affairs, and Media, Information and Communications.
For applicants, the problem goes beyond spending hours in queues. A delayed passport can interfere with a job opportunity, postpone education plans or disrupt business travel.
Suleman said the inquiry will seek to establish the reasons behind the continued problems despite government interventions aimed at improving passport services.
Citizens, civil society, professional bodies and other stakeholders will also have an opportunity to provide evidence and testimony during the process.
The committees are expected to present their findings and recommendations to the National Assembly during its next meeting.
For those waiting for their passports, the issue is therefore not simply about obtaining a government document, it is about whether the opportunity waiting for them will still be available when the document finally arrives.
