The department's director general, Charles Kalumo has confirmed.

The booklets are coming at a time when the department has contractual issues with government, which saw it rationing issuance of passports since 2021.

This has seen scores of people being unable to apply for new or renew passports at the department’s processing centres in Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Blantyre and Mangochi as the exercise was on halt, owing it to lack of raw materials.

The frequent suspension according to economist Sam Chiwaula can have an impact on small-scale businesses.

Social commentator Victor Chipofya Jnr sees this as an alarm that the socio-economic fabric of the country is being torn.

Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda has told us that the consignment is coming in as both parties have mandatory obligations to meet in the cancelled contract.

In 2021, government terminated the US$60.8 million contract with the sole supplier of passport booklets on grounds that it was marred with irregularities.