Chaponda Urges Government to End Passport Delays, Calls for Contract Review
Published on June 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM by Edgar Naitha
Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Dr. George Chaponda, has urged the Ministry of Homeland Security to swiftly resolve the ongoing challenges at the Department of Immigration, citing serious impacts on key economic sectors.
In a statement released this morning, Dr. Chaponda suggested that the government consider cancelling its contract with the current passport supplier, Madras Security Printers of India. The company took over from Techno Brain, and Chaponda believes their performance warrants scrutiny.
He also called on the Ministry and Immigration Department to explain the disruptions in passport processing over the past two weeks, during which many applicants were reportedly turned away without service.
However, Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma downplayed the concerns, stating there is no passport crisis. He maintained that the printing process is proceeding smoothly following a recent system upgrade, and assured the public that all procedures were followed in selecting the new service provider.
