China-based Laxton has deployed a biometric ID programme in Malawi that will be used for elections and eGovernment services.Laxton's biometric registration kits have successfully registered over 9 million Malawians as part of the National Registration Bureau's nationwide Identity program.Laxton was awarded the contract by the United Nations Development Program in February 2017. The biometric registration kit (BRK) solution was used by NRB officers to register new applicants and amend existing records for the nationwide registration campaign.The Government of Malawi described the mass national registration and identification exercise a success as over 9 million people, representing 98.8% coverage, had registered by the end of October. Minister of Home Affairs at the time, Grace Chiumia was quoted in the Nyasa Times, saying: “Come mid November, 2017, we will have registered the projected figure of 9, 098,115 Malawians as some districts, like Nkhata Bay, are still registering”.Laxton's solution included the delivery of 2,000 BRK's, a central biometric record management system, data collection centre, in-country project management, and training of National Registration Bureau officers. The BRK's were housed in rugged, portable cases and included a fingerprint scanner, electronic signature pad, camera and Photo ID assembly, document scanner, thermal printer, and laptop. The solution included a customized software interface to consolidate new data to the existing National Registration and Identification System (NRIS) database, and allow for continuous registration.In a statement, Laxton's CEO, Lyle Laxton said “We are extremely proud of this achievement. It demonstrates our ability to present cost effective, high technology, Election, Identity & SelfService solutions to governments and corporations, and highlights our expertise in Africa. It is the result of some very hard work by a competent and dynamic team.”
