Tendai GukutikwaPost ReporterGOVERNMENT has commissioned the ultramodern Provincial Registry Office in Mutare in a significant milestone that will enable Manicaland residents to access e-passport services locally, thereby easing years of travel and access challenges.The new facility, which replaces a dilapidated wooden structure that housed the provincial registry office for over a decade, was officially commissioned yesterday (Thursday) by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe.The Mutare Provincial Registry Complex took two years and two months to complete, and will now serve as a central hub for the issuance of national identity documents, birth and death certificates, and passports, among other essential civic registry services in the province.With the capacity to handle thousands of applications each month, the office boasts digital security systems to safeguard records, ensuring efficient, seamless and secure service delivery.The building is equipped with a 40kVA solar power plant to ensure uninterrupted service delivery, even during power outages.Minister Kazembe hailed the commissioning as a significant milestone in modernising public service delivery and fulfilling the Government’s pledge to decentralise critical services.“We are delighted to commission this newly constructed Provincial Registry Office, the first of its kind in the Second Republic. This milestone marks another significant step in our journey towards infrastructure development and modernising public service delivery in Zimbabwe,” said Minister Kazembe.Minister Kazembe said the introduction of e-passport services in Mutare, following Chipinge, will revolutionise the lives of thousands of people, who previously had to travel to Chipinge, Harare, or Marondera to obtain passports.“This passport office embodies our commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of our citizens. Its role extends beyond issuing travel documents — it connects our people to the global community.
Without civil documents, one cannot go to school, access social services, or travel abroad. This facility bridges that gap, linking citizens to a world of opportunities,” said Minister Kazembe.He further said the decentralisation of e-passport services was long overdue, hindered by the absence of suitable infrastructure to support the project. However, the completion of the Mutare office has now made it possible to roll out the services.Minister Kazembe also emphasised that Zimbabwe’s adoption of biometric and machine-readable e-passports has aligned the country with international standards stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), ensuring seamless travel for citizens.“Zimbabwean e-passports are, not only secure, but are globally recognised.
They will help combat fraud and illegal migration, while making international travel more seamless for our people,” he said.Minister Kazembe also revealed that his ministry is expanding its services beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, with passport offices already operational in Johannesburg, South Africa, while plans are underway to establish similar services in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Botswana.He appealed to citizens to take pride in the new Mutare facility, and safeguard it for future generations.“This office belongs to the people of Manicaland. It must be protected, respected, and used solely for the purpose it was built — to provide efficient, reliable, and accessible services. Together, we must ensure that no place and no one is left behind,” he said.Registrar-General, Mr Henry Machiri applauded Government’s commitment to strengthening the Civil Registry Department, and ensuring universal access to crucial civic documents.“This new office is proof of Government’s dedication to protecting every citizen’s right to identity.
Read Full Article on The Herald (Com)
[paywall]
For years, Mutare operated from unsafe and dilapidated wooden structures, which, not only compromised service delivery, but also endangered vital life records. The new building eliminates these risks,” said Mr Machiri, adding that his department has decentralised civil registration services to all 10 provinces and 63 districts, making it easier for citizens to obtain travel, birth, death, and national identity documents.“As the Civil Registry Department, we reaffirm our commitment to improve access to registration and travel documents, not only through infrastructure, but also through enhancing digital innovations that will form the foundation of a robust digital identity system in Zimbabwe,” he said.Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the facility reflects the Government’s drive to bring services closer to citizens as part of the devolution agenda and Vision 2030.“Today, we celebrate, not just the unveiling of a building, but the birth of a symbol of progress, accessibility, and transformation. For over a decade, the provincial registry operated from temporary wooden structures.“Today, we witness the dawn of a new chapter as Manicaland takes its rightful place in accessing efficient and secure services,” said Minister Mugadza.He said the building, designed under a smart-city concept, will operate as a one-stop-shop for vital documents, further decongesting other registry offices across the country.The excitement among Mutare residents was palpable, as many citizens expressed relief at the decentralisation of e-passport services.Mutare socialite, Ms Cecilia Gambe, said the development was long overdue.“We are happy because services have finally been brought closer home.
Previously, we had to travel to Harare, Chipinge or Marondera to apply for passports. That was costly and time-consuming. We thank Government for listening to the people,” she said.Another resident, Mrs Linda Masasa, said the move will ease many families’ financial burdens.“For years, we spent money on transport and accommodation just to apply for passports.
Now that Mutare has its own office, it will save us both time and resources. This is a real game-changer for poor families and residents,” she said.
[/paywall]
