Passport delays trigger clashes in Lilongwe
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Nyasa Times
Passport applicants clashed with officers at the regional immigration headquarters in Lilongwe after persistent printing delays linked to network problems. Police fired tear gas, several people were arrested, and offices and a vehicle were damaged, Nyasa Times reports.
Passport applicants clashed with immigration officers at the regional headquarters in Lilongwe, Malawi, amid persistent delays in printing travel documents. Office windows and the rear windscreen of a vehicle belonging to a staff member were damaged, Nyasa Times reports, citing witnesses.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, while immigration officers carrying metal bars took part in restoring order. Barricades were later installed on roads leading to the offices and several people were arrested, according to witnesses cited by the newspaper.
Anger began to grow on Monday after dozens of applicants complained about their prolonged wait. Immigration officers reportedly cited persistent network problems to explain the accumulation of delayed applications, according to Nyasa Times.
