Author(s): Maime, B.R., Naong, M.N.
Globalisation and advancements in technology have, in the recent past, transformed the world into a global village, making trade relations and the mobility of both people and goods a realistic possibility. Regrettably, delays in the processing of key enablers, such as passports and visas can be a hindrance. This paper examines the current status regarding passport management systems in two African countries namely, South Africa (SA) and Lesotho and their adoption of the Management Information System (MISs) as a suitable conduit for mitigation purposes. The application and development of the technology adoption model (specifically TAM) is drawn from the literature review with the focus on its potential application for the innovative technology of a single platform E-passport. A survey was used to randomly collect data from 100 respondents from the passport offices of the two countries. The findings revealed, among other things, that although a SA passport application can take between three to six months to process before the passport is issued, in Lesotho this process can take anything from one to two years. Economic issues are also unavoidable factors that always affect technological developments. The adoption and adherence to the MISs in passport processing will undoubtedly aid policy-makers to eliminate bottlenecks that hinder smooth and speedy economic trade between the two countries.