Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana, MP, is seeking a statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding the challenges in passport issuance and claims of corruption in the Directorate of Immigration Services, particularly the Passport Section.

In her Statement, the Committee should; 

Outline the measures being implemented to combat alleged instances of corruption within the Directorate of Immigration Services, particularly the practice of expediting passport issuance for those who can afford to bribe officials;

Explain the immediate and long-term measures put in place by Government to address cases of frequent machine breakdowns as well as supply chain challenges for passport production; and state any plans by Immigration Services to clear the substantial backlog of approximately 60,000 pending passport applications and expedite the processing of these applications in strict adherence to the stipulated 21- day processing time.