By Kelly Napolo:
The Malawi Government is yet to receive confirmation from E-Tech, its passport supplier, regarding a proposed three-month contract extension.
This offer comes as the government seeks to maintain passport issuance services while working toward a permanent solution after the initial six-month contract with E-Tech expired at the end of August.
Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Homeland Security Steve Kayuni confirmed that the government is in the midst of a procurement process aimed at securing a long-term passport issuance solution.
The three-month extension is part of a broader strategy to ensure a smooth transition between the current temporary arrangement and a more sustainable system.
“There is no change in any way. Temporary solutions and permanent solutions were always part of the strategy. Nothing has changed in that process. The procurement process is still underway, and the government has offered a three-month extension to E-Tech while these processes continue under the guidelines of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA),” Kayuni said.
PPDA spokesperson Kate Kujaliwa also confirmed the development, noting that the Ministry of Homeland Security sought guidance on preparing bidding documents for a new passport supplier in accordance with the PPDA Act of 2017.
The Act mandates PPDA to assist procuring entities, including providing advice on the preparation of procurement documents.
“The Ministry of Homeland Security, through the Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, requested advice on how to prepare its bidding documents for the procurement of the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of the E-Passport Issuance System (E-PIS). The PPDA has provided the necessary guidance to the department,” Kujaliwa said.
This comes after the Ministry of Homeland Security assured the public last month that passport services would not be interrupted. The country has faced challenges with passport issuance since earlier this year, following system hacks confirmed by President Lazarus Chakwera during a parliamentary session.
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