By Suleman Chitera
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has launched investigations into 21 complaints of alleged corrupt practices at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, exposing what authorities describe as a deeply entrenched and coordinated system of bribery.
In a statement issued on Friday, ACB Acting Director Gabriel Chembezi said the probe follows a recent visit to the department’s Central Regional Offices by Deputy Minister of Homeland Security Norman Chisale, which uncovered widespread corruption involving immigration officers and middlemen commonly known as dobadobas.
According to Chembezi, the complaints paint a disturbing picture of passport services being deliberately sabotaged to extort money from desperate Malawians. Immigration officers and their alleged collaborators are accused of demanding bribes of up to K500,000 to fast-track passport processing—far above the official fees, which range between K50,000 and K120,000.
“The allegations reveal a well-organised and tolerated culture of corruption that undermines public service delivery and robs citizens of their dignity,” Chembezi said.
He warned that the corruption goes beyond individual misconduct, suggesting systemic failures across government institutions mandated to serve the public with integrity and professionalism.
The ACB has assured Malawians that the investigations will be comprehensive and uncompromising, stressing that no one will be shielded from accountability, regardless of position or influence.
The revelations come amid growing public outrage over persistent delays and irregularities in passport issuance, with the latest probe raising fresh questions about governance, oversight, and the cost of corruption on ordinary citizens seeking basic government services.
