Malawi Introduces Electronic Passports

By Tafadzwa Mutsotso

The Malawian Embassy will on April 26 to 28 run an outreach programme in Bulawayo and Matebeleland provinces to raise awareness on the introduction of the electronic passport by its government.

The programme will be held at the Malawi Pavilion at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds.

In a statement, the Malawian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Annie Kumwenda said the purpose of the program was to help Malawians establish their stay in the country and introduce the new electronic passports (e-passports).

“The outreach program aims to assist Malawians in Zimbabwe to apply for new passports, emergency travel documents, replace old passports and help them regularize their stay in Zimbabwe and also to introduce our new e-passport,” said Kumwenda.

She said applicants of the e-passport should be holders of ‘alien’ identity cards.

“Applicants should bring long birth certificates, passports, full parents’ particulars in Malawi that is village, T/A and District, 3 current passport size photographs in colour 4.5×3.5cm with white background,” she said.

The introduced e-passport is already in circulation and its fee is US$170.