Bulawayo e-passport centre opened
Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa
The launch and implementation of the e-passport project resonates with the National Development Strategy One (NDS1) objective to modernise the economy through the use of ICTs and digital technology, as the country rallies towards the attainment of Vision 2030 a cabinet Minister has said
This was said by Home Affairs and national Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe in Bulawayo today as he was launching the Bulawayo today. This becomes the second one in the country after the first that was opened on 14 December 2021 by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe E.D Mnangagwa, in Harare.
Min Kazembe said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the official opening of the Bulawayo Province e-passport bio enrolment centre. The roll out of the e-passport project started in Harare, and Bulawayo is the second province to have the facility which will be cascaded to other provincial and district centres. I am glad to inform you that the process of setting up the infrastructure for the issuance of e-passports has now been taken to Hwange and Lupane, in Matabeleland North Province. This shall be followed by a similar exercise to the remaining seven (7) provincial offices, which should be up and running by 30 June 2022.”
Zimbabwe is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which requires that member states take necessary measures to ensure the integrity, authenticity and security of travel and identity documents. The introduction of the new generation e-passport is therefore, fully compliant with ICAO standards and has enhanced security features to abate fraudulent activities.
The e-passport has an electronic cover with a chip, personal data of the holder and each page of the passport chronicles a story about Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage and major tourists attractions as well as security thread fully embedded in the inner booklet pages. The enhanced security features will play a major role in combatting cross-border organized crime and illegal migration, thereby, bringing integrity to our migration system.
Minister Kazembe said, “Initially, e-passport applications will be processed at provincial and a few district centres. Plans are however afoot to decentralise e-passport enrolment services to all districts in our drive to take services to the people in line with the dictates of devolution.”
He said the programme of decentralising passport services to the district level started with the establishment of Chitungwiza Passport Office, which is now operational. He also said the setting up of infrastructure to establish the e-passport system in Chitungwiza is at an advanced stage of completion. The decentralization of e-passport services to district level remains a priority for the Ministry.
He added, “I am aware of the challenges our citizens are experiencing in trying to acquire travel documents. I must assure you however, that with the decentralization of the e-passport enrolment centres, the long queues that have been witnessed at passport offices will soon be a thing of the past.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs is also focused on contributing optimally towards the ease of doing business through the deployment of online platforms which are critical towards the realization of enhanced service delivery. The Ministry is therefore working on plans to establish an Online Passport Application system for the convenience of the general public.
He warned against criminal elements purporting to be employees or agents of the Civil Registry Department who are defrauding citizens of their hard-earned cash, promising facilitation to acquire e-passports and in other cases, identity documents. He said that these bogus individuals do not, in any way, represent the Ministry and members of the public are urged to approach the Civil Registry directly when seeking access to civil registration and to desist from engaging intermediaries.
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