The Ministry of Homeland Security has disclosed that the Department of Immigration is facing delays in implementing free visa fees within the tourism sector due to the repayment of a 1.5 billion Kwacha loan to a contractor responsible for the visa issuance contract system.
This concern has been raised four months after President Chakwera, issued a directive to eliminate visa fees within the tourism industry as a strategy to attract more international tourists to the country.
Steven Kayuni the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Homeland Security, said the loan issues at the immigration department and the need for continuous consultations have caused delays in the implementation process.
According to Kayuni, it was mentioned that Malawi generates approximately one point eight billion kwacha from visa fees, and there is an expectation to settle the loan within one year.
