You’ll be fired, corrupt passport officers warned

By NOEL IYOMBWA GOVERNMENT will fire officers found engaging in corrupt activities at the passport office, Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Chileshe Mulenga has warned. Dr Chileshe said Government did not tolerate corruption hence any officer found wanting would be dealt with immediately. This follows complaints of corruption at the passport office in Lusaka as citizens wonder why the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) was paying a blind eye to the scourge in public offices. Several Lusaka residents complained that people were being made to pay for a “faster service” at the passport office to have documents cleared quickly. In an interview, the source whose identity has been withheld, described the passport office as one of the most corrupt departments in the Ministry of Home Affairs. He explained that a number of people wishing to have a passport were vulnerable because they were in a hurry to travel, hence were willing to offer money just to get their documents done on time. “Most people are in a hurry to travel so for them to get a passport in no time, they have to pay and it doesn’t matter whether they want an express one or not,” he said. The source said there were a number of individuals involved in one transaction hence it was difficult for one to report activities of an employee. But when contacted, Dr Mulenga said a number of officers at the passport office had been dismissed in the past for engaging in corruption. Dr Mulenga said that in the past when people were paying for passports or any registration direct on the counter, the money was pocketed. He however said with the new system of paying through the bank, the situation had improved as there was less room for corruption. Meanwhile, Dr Mulenga has advised the public to report any corrupt activities that they come across.