LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group under the banner Malawi Civil Society Black Economic Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) insists that the embattled Techno Brain is not fit to take back services of passport printing arguing that the company took Malawians to ransom when they need their support after passport system got crashed.
MaBLEM has therefore urged President Lazarus Chakwera’s government to expedite the process of identifying new passport printing service providers with enough experience while meeting the highest standards of quality, security, and cost-effectiveness.
Addressing the news conference on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, in the capital Lilongwe, MaBLEM chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba hinted that Techno Brain proved to be an incompetent and crook company when it wanted dupe Malawians to restore the compromised system at an exorbitant cost of US$1.5 million, coupled with a demand for advance payment to an account based in Dubai.
“This proposal raises significant concerns, not only regarding the company’s role in the initial system collapse but also the ethics and
transparency surrounding their proposed solution. As a result, a different company was granted a temporary six-month contract to restore and manage the passport system.
“This temporary contract is set to expire at the end of August 2024, and the Ministry of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Department of Immigration, has been tasked with identifying a new service provider to take over this critical function,” says Mkwezalamba.
As to why Techno Brain is not fit, MaBLEM explains, “It has come to our attention that certain parties are advocating for the
reinstatement of Technobrain Ltd as the passport service provider, because they had previously installed the system and that replacing it would incur high costs. MaBLEM finds this line of reasoning fundamentally flawed for several reasons”.
“On System Security, Technobrain system was the very one that was compromised in the cyberattack. Reinstating a system that has already been proven vulnerable poses significant risks to national security”.
On unresolved accountability MaBLEM adds, “To date, those responsible for the cyberattack have not been held accountable, leaving open questions about the integrity and security of the system. Without a thorough investigation and resolution of these issues, it would be reckless to entrust Technobrain with such a critical national function.
“On cost and affordability, Technobrain Ltd has not demonstrated a commitment to reducing the costs associated with passport issuance. In contrast, the current temporary system has managed to lower passport fees by approximately 50%. Any new provider must offer not only security and efficiency but also affordability for Malawian citizens”.
Chips in MaBLEM Coordinator Fryson Chodzi, “MaBLEM acknowledges the efforts made by the Ministry and the Department of Immigration to ensure a thorough and transparent selection process for the new passport printing service provider. The criteria established are designed to ensure that the selected company has the necessary expertise, experience, and capability to provide a secure,
efficient, and cost-effective service.
“However, MaBLEM strongly urges the Ministry to remain vigilant and to ensure that every step of the procurement process is conducted with the highest level of scrutiny and integrity. All due diligence measures must be rigorously applied to avoid any recurrence of past failures and to protect the integrity of Malawi’s national security infrastructure”.
Mkwezalamba says, “MaBLEM strongly advises the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Department of Immigration to resist any external pressures to re-award the contract to Technobrain Ltd or any other provider without a thorough and transparent evaluation process.
“The selection of a new passport printing service provider must be based solely on merit, with a focus on security, efficiency, and the best interests of the Malawian people”.
“MaBLEM remains committed to advocating for the protection of national security and the provision of essential services in a manner that is transparent, fair, and in the best interest of the public. We call upon all stakeholders involved in this process to prioritize the security, integrity, and affordability of the passport issuance system.
“We would want the Government to expedite this process while following the due process and ensure that the supplier who is selected has enough experience and passes through a due diligence process. MaBLEM will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide support to ensure that the selected service provider meets the highest standards of quality, security, and cost-effectiveness,” adds Chodzi.
last month, MaBLEM lauded E-Tech Services Limited’s capacity and expertise for restoring Malawi’s passport services Immigration Department.
The grouping has therefore applauded Chakwera’s government for its efforts in restoring passport services in both Blantyre and Mzuzu.
E-Tech Services’ six-month contract ends in August 2024 hence the Malawi government is searching permanently for a service provider.