The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has revoked four Malawi passports, including a diplomatic one, following a sweeping internal review that revealed irregularities in the acquisition of the travel documents.
The cancellations affect individuals residing in the United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa who, according to authorities, failed to provide valid proof of Malawian citizenship.
Homeland Security Minister Ezekiel Ching’oma said the cancellations come amid broader efforts by the Ministry of Homeland Security to restore integrity and accountability in Malawi’s immigration system, as well as tighten controls to prevent abuse of travel documents.
“Investigations are ongoing and more revocations may follow,” Ching’oma said
In separate letters dated June 20, 2025, acting Director General of Immigration Macloud Kalindang’oma informed the affected individuals that their passports were issued erroneously and must be surrendered within seven days or face legal consequences.
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Among those affected are three members of the Abdul Razzak Sattar family, currently based at 24 Okehampton Avenue, Leicester, United Kingdom.
The individuals Zeunisa Abdul Razzak Sattar, Mahomed Irshad Abdul Razak Abdul Sattar and Nasir Abdul Razzak Sattar—had been issued Malawian passports between 2015 and 2016.
However, a closer examination of their records revealed significant inconsistencies.
For Zeunisa Sattar, the department stated that her passport (MA579611), issued in July 2015, was granted without evidence of lawful Malawian citizenship.
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The issuance bypassed Malawi’s diplomatic protocols, including processing through the High Commission in London, and there was no record of her being naturalised or registered as a citizen under the Malawi Citizenship Act.
Her son, Mahomed Sattar, who was born at Zomba General Hospital in 1979, also had his passport (MA579859) revoked.
The authorities determined that both of his parents were Indian citizens at the time of his birth, disqualifying him from automatic Malawian citizenship by birth.
Nasir Sattar’s passport (MA580510) was similarly revoked. The department cited discrepancies in the nationality details on his birth certificate.
While his document claimed he was born in Malawi to a Malawian mother and Pakistani father, records related to his elder brother stated that both parents were Indian nationals. His mother failed to prove her Malawian citizenship at the time of his birth.
In a separate but related development, the department also revoked a diplomatic passport issued to Amos Gordon Noah, a South African national.
His passport (MWD001406) was found to have been issued erroneously, as he has not lawfully acquired Malawian citizenship.
The department emphasised that diplomatic passports are reserved for verified Malawian citizens who meet strict eligibility requirements.
“All affected individuals are expected to surrender the passports through the nearest Malawi diplomatic mission or immigration office within seven days from the date of notification,” the letters warned.
“Failure to comply may lead to further legal action,” the letters added.
The crackdown follows increasing scrutiny of how foreign nationals acquire Malawian documents.
Under the Malawi Citizenship Act, only individuals with at least one Malawian parent or those who undergo formal registration or naturalisation processes are eligible for citizenship.
Authorities have, in recent years, expressed concern over fraudulent and irregular passport acquisitions, particularly among diaspora communities.
