E- Passport services launched in Bulawayo

Bulawayo (New Ziana) – Issuance of the e-passport was launched in Bulawayo on Wednesday as part of efforts to decentralise and speed up processing of the travel documents in the country.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched e-passports, which will replace the conventional travel documents previously in use, in December last year.

Speaking at the Bulawayo launch, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe said e-passports will be issued at selected provincial and 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.

He said decentralisation of passport services to districts started with the establishment of the Chitungwiza passport offices.

“The setting up of infrastructure to establish the e-passport system in Chitungwiza is at an advanced stage of completion,” said Kazembe.

He said decentralising e- passport services to district level was a top priority of government, and this will be built around an online passport application system it was setting up for the convenience of the general public.

The new e- passport heralded Zimbabwe’s entry into the modern era of smart technology in travel and identity documents.

Meanwhile, Kazembe said the Civil Registry Department will be embarking on a nationwide mobile registration exercise from 1 April to 30 September, 2022 and the exercise will be focusing mainly on the issuance of births, deaths and national identity documents.
New Ziana