Chakwera gives a fresh directive on cyber investigation

By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

President Lazarus Chakwera has issued a fresh directive to have all the law enforcement agencies provided with the required support to investigate and get to the bottom of the cyber attack that collapsed the passport issuing system, and that those responsible for the act be held accountable.

The President was speaking at Mzuzu State Lodge on Wednesday, 13th March 2024, when the Minister of Homeland Security, Ken Zikhale Ng’oma briefed him on the E-Passport issuance system restoration at the Immigration and Citizenship Services Department, a few weeks after the cyber attack at the department leading to subsequent suspension of printing travel documents.

However, President Chakwera commended the successful work by the officials and the team of IT experts for sacrificial time in restoring the system within the time frame he gave them to have the system fixed.

During the briefing, Zikhale presented to President Chakwera a certified sample passport printed at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services this week.

In a separate interview, Zikhale Ng’oma commended the President for all the support rendered to the Department of Immigration and his entire Ministry to make sure the system is fixed back.

“The President has always been following what was happening in the efforts to have the system back, so that Malawians do not continue to be denied access to passports.

I am happy today, and at the Ministry we are happy that within the time frame that was given by the President, our experts have managed to fix the system back, and we came to brief the President on the progress as well as present to him a sample of the printed passport” Said Homeland Security Minister.

Also in attendance during the briefing were officials from the Ministry of Information and Digitalization, Office of President and Cabinet, and Presidential Delivery Unit.

According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, the Government has reduced the cost of an ordinary passport from K90,000 to K50,000 for many Malawians to have access to the document.