JUST ADMIT THAT PASSPORT OFFICE IS IN A MESS

We do not like to be seen to be antagonistic on national issues just like we do not like it when people decide to turn a blind eye to the truth and become unnecessarily defensive when serious issues are brought to the fore.

We know that after our editorial comment of Friday, April 19, 2024, Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security Public Relations Officer Collins Hikalinda issued a statement to try and water down the pertinent issues we raised concerning the wrong things happening at the Passport Office.

According to him, over 5000 passports have remained uncollected and that the office now has enough printing material. He also gave an unsolicited lecture to Zambians to stop rushing to social media to express grievances but engage the ministry.

You see, we do not pride in brewing confusion but if this is the way our colleagues in PR will be executing their duties, then it will not be long before they start accusing us of having personal issues against them. First of all, any normal human being who understands the implications of the inefficiencies at the Passport Office will tell you that this is just a case of blowing hot air.

Honestly, who, in his rightful mind, would apply for a passport and decide not to collect it? So, over 5000 people applied for passports and decided not to collect them on purpose? Does this even make any sense? We challenge Hikalinda to stop being reactive by issuing empty statements from the comfort of his office without getting to the bottom of the matter. Let him step out and go to the Passport Office and see what Zambians are going through.

We do not pride in reporting lies or social media rumours but getting to the bottom of the matter before publishing anything. To understand the gravity of the situation, three months ago, The Scoop requested one of its readers to apply for a passport so that we could understand what is going on and up to now, the passport is not yet out.

Hikalinda may be interested to know that on the same day that he issued that statement, our staff made a follow up and was told the same old story that the passport was not ready because the office does not have printing material. So, who is fooling who here? Who is telling the truth between the ministry which is trying to defend the Passport Office and the Passport Office itself?

Does the ministry know that some people have died while waiting for passports to be evacuated abroad for specialist treatment? Does the ministry know that some people have lost training and employment opportunities because of the laissez-faire attitude of some people at the Passport Office?

Having a passport is not a luxury but a requirement and those responsible should stop playing monkey tricks and joke around the matter by defending wrongdoing, yet they are supposed to address it with the seriousness it deserves. There is no sense in subjecting people to months and months of waiting without getting their documents. What sense is in defending people who are paid to do their job yet subjecting Zambians to mental anguish?  The Ministry of Home Affairs should just admit things are wrong at the Passport Office. As a matter of fact, they should not tempt us to take it personal on them because we are capable of going all the way.

The Government is trying its level best to enhance service delivery to its people but there are always rotten elements trying to frustrate such good intentions and it would not serve any purpose to people like Hikalinda to continue defending wrong things.