Exodus: Over a thousand people seeking passports daily

The Department of Immigration reports that the daily applications for new passports from Malawians have surged to 1,300, up from more than 300.

Pasqually Zulu, the spokesperson for the Department says that the rise is due to an increased number of Malawians returning home from South Africa through self-repatriation, along with some being deported.

“It is unfortunate that some individuals are seeking new passports even though their existing ones are still valid. These are typically individuals whose passports have issues, such as sanctions at foreign borders,” Zulu stated.

He also mentioned that the immigration department currently lacks data on individuals who have already been issued passports but are now applying for new ones, as well as those changing their names without detection.

A significant number of Malawian youths are migrating to the Republic of South Africa (RSA) to escape severe economic stagnation, high unemployment rates, and a scarcity of local job opportunities.

However, this mass migration is met with strong opposition, as South African authorities have intensified their crackdown on undocumented migration, leading to the deportation of over 2,000 young Malawians in recent months.