BLOW FOR THOSE SEEKING IDS, PASSPORTS

MBABANE – The Ministry of Home Affairs has temporarily suspended the issuance of ID cards, due to a breakdown of the ID printer system.

The Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nhlanhla Nxumalo, in a press statement, said urgent requests for Identity (ID) cards should be directed to their offices for special acknowledgements and alternative arrangements, to meet their identification requirements during this period of interruption. Nxumalo said the breakdown of the printer system resulted in significant disruptions to the ministry’s services. Additionally, the PS also indicated disruption in the issuance of passports.

Backlog

He said due to technical issues with the passport production printers, there has been a backlog and slowdown in the processing of passport applications, across all service centres nationwide, causing delays in passports issuance. Nxumalo stated that the malfunction of passport production printers has impacted their ability to efficiently process passport applications. “We understand the inconvenience and frustration that this situation may have caused for individuals, eagerly awaiting their passports,” said Nxumalo. According to Nxumalo, all efforts are being made to address this challenge promptly.

He stated that the backlog in passport processing is anticipated to be resolved soon, allowing for the timely issuance of pending passports. “Additionally, the ministry is actively seeking a permanent solution to enhance the efficiency and reliability of our passport printing system. We kindly request the patience and cooperation of all stakeholders, as we diligently work to overcome this issue,” said the principal secretary.

Inconvenience

Meanwhile, Nxumalo said they are actively working to resolve the technical issues and restore normal operations promptly, to minimise inconvenience to citizens. He pointed out that alternative solutions are being explored to maintain essential services. “We appreciate your patience as we address these challenges and aim to resume full production soon. “Thank you for your continued trust in the Ministry of Home Affairs. We are dedicated to restoring our services to full capacity and meeting the travelling and identification needs of Eswatini citizens, at the earliest opportunity,” said Nxumalo.

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