By Staff Reporter
A group of local photographers in Malawi has accused the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services of maintaining a near-decade-long monopoly over passport photo services, a move they say has destroyed livelihoods and pushed many families into extreme poverty.
The dispute dates back to 2016, when the Immigration Department introduced its own system of photographing passport applicants. Under the new arrangement, applicants were required to have their photos taken exclusively inside Immigration offices, with the revenue reportedly deposited into what officials described as a welfare fund.
Since then, private photographers—many of whom depended heavily on passport-size photos as their primary source of income—say they have been completely sidelined.
“We Were Left to Die with Hunger”
Chairperson of the affected group, Assapher Philip Stone, says the change wiped out an entire industry overnight.
“From 2016 up to today, November 2025, we are still struggling to survive with our families,”
he said in an interview.
“We invested in cameras, printers, and studios. Suddenly the government took the whole business and kept the money for themselves. We were left to die with hunger.”
Photographers argue that the sudden loss of income has forced many to close their studios, sell their equipment, or abandon the profession altogether.
Claims of Selective Enforcement
Photographers further allege that Immigration officers accept photos taken by private photographers only when the clients are expatriates, foreign nationals, or VIPs.
For ordinary Malawians, they claim the same photos are routinely rejected—forcing applicants to pay again for photos taken inside Immigration offices.
They describe the practice as:
unfair competition
discriminatory
and a deliberate effort to eliminate independent photographers
Years of Petitions, No Action
According to the group, more than a dozen government offices and oversight bodies have been contacted over the years. Petitions and letters were sent to:
Parliament
Office of the Ombudsman
Human Rights Defenders Coalition
Competition and Fair Trading Commission
Malawi Human Rights Commission
Ministry of Homeland Security
Ministry of Information
Office of the Attorney General
Department of Immigration leadership
Office of the President and Cabinet
Lilongwe District Council
Despite these efforts, the photographers say nothing has changed.
Alleged Detention of Chairman
In a particularly troubling claim, Chairman Stone alleges that in 2023 he was arrested and detained for six days at Maula Prison, without being charged or appearing before a court.
He believes the detention was an attempt to silence him after he publicly criticized the alleged monopoly.
A Call for Fairness and Transparency
The photographers insist their demand is simple: allow private photographers to compete fairly.
“We only want the freedom to work,” Stone said.
“The camera we use is the same. The printer is the same. Why should our photos be rejected only for poor people, while VIP photos are allowed?”
The group is calling on the government to:
- End the exclusive control of passport photo services
- Investigate alleged misconduct in photo acceptance
- Protect small businesses from policy decisions that threaten their survival
- Restore opportunities for thousands who once relied on passport photography
Families Caught in the Crossfire
As Malawi continues to promote job creation and entrepreneurship, photographers warn that the ongoing monopoly contradicts the country’s economic goals.
For many affected families, the issue is no longer about business—it is about survival
