President Peter Mutharika is being hailed for delivering on his promise to reform Malawi’s national identification system after government began issuing national identity cards without expiry dates.
The reform, effective from September 16, 2026, fulfils Mutharika’s commitment to end the expiry of national identity cards, according to government officials.
Homeland Security Minister Peter Mukhito announced the change on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the launch of the Nzika Digital ID Wallet, directing the National Registration Bureau (NRB) to start issuing IDs without expiry dates.
“This reform recognises a simple but fundamental principle: A person’s identity does not expire,” Mukhito said, according to Nation Online.
The change means newly issued national identity cards will no longer have to be renewed simply because they have reached their expiry date.
The announcement has been welcomed by supporters of Mutharika’s administration, who see it as evidence that the President is implementing commitments made by his government.
The reform comes alongside the launch of the Nzika Digital ID Wallet, which allows citizens to access and present verified identification credentials through their mobile phones.
Mutharika said the digital wallet would make national identification more secure and convenient, allowing identity verification to be conducted using a smartphone.
The President described the development as part of his administration’s digital transformation agenda and thanked development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for supporting the initiative.
The UNDP says the wallet allows citizens to access and manage official credentials, including national IDs, birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates.
The digital wallet complements rather than replaces the physical national identity card, with government saying citizens who prefer physical cards will continue to use them.
The introduction of non-expiring IDs comes exactly one year after Mutharika and the Democratic Progressive Party returned to government following the September 16, 2025 presidential election.
The development has therefore provided the administration with another opportunity to point to a specific commitment that has now moved from policy promise to implementation.
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