Government extends issuance of passports for Zambians abroad
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:21:24 PM
THE government has extended the issuance of passports for Zambians in the Diaspora from August, 31 2009 to December, 31, 2009. Home affairs minister Lameck Mangani announced in a statement yesterday that the ministry had taken note of the challenges in the issuance of the passports particularly among Zambians in the diaspora.
Mangani stated that this problem had also been brought to the attention of President Rupiah Banda in the course of his international duties.
He stated that the main problem had been the long process from the time an application was filled in at the Zambian mission abroad to the time it actually reached passport office.
"Despite the long process, however, most forms are submitted with major errors making it virtually impossible for passport office to issue passports accordingly. In view of this, government has decided to further extend the issuance of these new passports from August 31, 2009 to December, 31, 2009. Thereafter, the usage of the old passport will not be acceptable," he stated "Further, my ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has found it necessary for passport officers to undertake clinics in the most affected countries so that the issue is addressed expeditiously. The missions to be considered include London, Washington, New York, Moscow, Beijing, Pretoria, Gaborone, Harare and Maputo. All old applicants whose forms have not been received by passport office and new applicants would be required to make submissions accordingly so that there are no errors and the applications would then be processed."
Mangani stated that it was in his considered view that once officers were sent for this assignment, many Zambians abroad would be given chance in the renewal of their passports.
Meanwhile, Mangani stated that the passport office had so far issued a total of 110,000 new passports.
He stated that the original target figure was 450,000 old passports to be replaced but because of several new applications, the new target figure was one million passport holders.
"Although with inadequate staff, our office produces between 800 to 1,000 passports per day. We shall do everything possible to smoothen the operations of the passports offices," stated Mangani.
Labels: PASSPORTS
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Chiluba gets back his passport
Written by Maluba Jere
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:12:58
LUSAKA magistrate senior clerk of court has released former president Frederick Chiluba’s passport following his acquittal on all six counts of embezzling public funds amounting to US $500,000.
In an interview yesterday, Chiluba through his press aide Emmanuel Mwamba said the passport had been released and handed to his lawyers Simeza Sangwa and Associates. Mwamba said the court had also issued a certificate of acquittal to Chiluba.
Ndola High Court registrar Jones Chinyama last week acquitted Chiluba of allegedly embezzling public funds.
However, the state has filed a notice of appeal in the matter.
A check in the criminal registry at the magistrates’ court revealed that the state had filed a notice of appeal to a higher court.
In another matter, Ministry of Health former human resources manager Henry Kapoko has finally been released on bail.
Kapoko was released on Monday afternoon after meeting all the bail conditions set by the magistrates’ court.
Kapoko has also been allowed to have access to his bank accounts.
The court earlier ruled that Kapoko could only have access to his bank accounts once a month.
The banks where Kapoko is believed to be an account holder are Zambia National Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Finance Bank.
Labels: CHILUBA, PASSPORTS
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Govt maintains prices for newly introduced passports
By Gillian Namungala
Sunday August 03, 2008 [12:51]
HOME Affairs minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has maintained that the government will not reduce prices for the newly introduced passports. The 48-page passport will cost K500,000 while the 32-page one will be pegged at K300,000. Lt Gen Shikapwasha, in an interview, said the price for the new passport was justifiable because it was based on the high cost of printing materials that would be used. He said the government would spend huge sums of money on the materials for the new passports.
“The materials that we will be using are very expensive and government will be spending a lot of money, therefore the price is justifiable,” Lt Gen Shikapwasha said. “Government is actually subsidising because K500,000 and K300,000 is not even sufficient compared to what is going to be spent on the materials.”
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the new passports would be computerised and would bear security features that would not be forged.
About K6.5 billion is expected to be spent on the printing of the new passports.
Currently, one pays K72,000 to obtain a passport.
Home affairs permanent secretary Susan Sikaneta on Friday announced that a group from Germany would be in the country to start the process of issuing new passports.
Labels: PASSPORTS, SHIKAPWASHA
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