Principal Secretary for e-Government in the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, Prosper Mopiwa, has described the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services as a strategic partner in the government's digital transformation agenda, citing the high public demand for immigration services.

He made the remarks on Friday in Lilongwe during a meeting with senior officials from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services aimed at advancing discussions on the integration of immigration e-services into the Bomalathu e-Service Portal under the World Bank-funded Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP).

Mopiwa: Collaboration is key

He said integrating immigration services onto the platform will enable citizens and businesses to conveniently access key services online while ensuring that the Department of Immigration retains full ownership, control, and management of its data and core business systems.

He further noted that the Bomalathu e-Service Portal is a one-stop digital gateway being developed to provide citizens and businesses with seamless access to Government services anytime and anywhere, reducing the need for physical visits to public offices while promoting efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

Speaking during the meeting, Director General for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, Denis Chipao, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant milestone in modernising immigration services.

Chipao said the integration will strengthen border management, passport processing, visa administration, and other immigration functions through improved information sharing, enhanced interoperability, and streamlined service delivery.

Chipao: It is a welcome development

He added that the collaboration aligns with the Government's broader vision of leveraging digital technologies to improve public service delivery and enhance customer experience.

Currently, the Department of e-Government is onboarding 25 priority e-services from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) onto the Bomalathu platform.

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the National Registration Bureau (NRB) are among the institutions already connected to the platform, which is supported by secure, locally hosted server infrastructure at the National Data Centre.

Mopiwa, Chipao, and other officials pose for a group photo.

The onboarding of immigration services is expected to further expand the range of digital public services available through Bomalathu, reinforcing the Government's commitment to building a citizen-centred digital economy under the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project.