By EPN Reporter
MBABANE – All types of passport and travel documents will be made available before the end of February 2024.
This was said by Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe. The minister stated that the supplier of Eswatini passports assured her that by the end of next month, the passports would be available. According to her statement, the minister said she led a team of her officials to meet the supplier to fast track the production and shipment of passports ordered as early as April 2023.
The minister said she received assurance that a new stock of passports and travel documents would be received before the end of next month. On another note, the minister stated that there were allegations of corruption circulating, which were involving officials from the home affairs ministry. These officials are said to demand money from Emaswati so that they could fast track the services.
Princess Lindiwe said they took such allegations seriously and urged Emaswati who had information to report such incidents so that the officials involved would be dealt with. She said her ministry adopted a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, in line with their mission and values. She assured the nation that her ministry was dedicated to give services in a transparent manner.
She said the ministry wanted to serve all citizens who needed passports with efficiency and utmost priority. The minister said her ministry was committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism within the ministry. The minister mentioned that the temporary situation could cause an untold inconvenience to the nation.
According to the minister, the oficials in her ministry worked teirelessly to normalise the situation. She further pleaded with the public to ensure that they followed the ministry’s official communication channels and the media houses for updates on the restoration of passport services and expressed her gratitude to the nation for being patient during this period.
