Govt decentralises e-passport issuance

MONA-LISA DUBE IN DUBAI

Government is  working on decentralising the issuance of the electronic  passport to enable Zimbabweans  living and working in the Diaspora to access the document, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister Kazembe Kazembe has said.

Currently the e-passports can only be obtained  from the Registrar General’s offices in Harare.

Kazembe said plans  to issue the e-passport at Zimbabwean embassies across the globe, starting with South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, were at an advanced stage.

“We are aware that our people in the Diaspora are facing a lot of challenges in accessing passports. The intention is to decentralise this service. Already we are working on Bulawayo which we intend to open next week then we move to Gwanda, Lupane, Hwange, Murehwa, Manicaland Mashonaland West,” Kazembe said.

He added: “The ultimate objective is to have anyone apply for a passport online.

“We will have centres within our  embassies. We have already lined up which embassies will be first depending on the population of Zimbabweans in that country starting with South Africa then we move to the UAE.”  

Kazembe also spoke on the congestion happening at the  central registry offices which he attributed to the increased demand for the e-passport.

“Everyone now wants an e-passport so the numbers have started increasing. What we have done is to allow people to make payments in the various CBZ branches that are now decongesting the centre.”

Government is currently  battling a backlog of ordinary passports dating from two years.

“It is a legacy issue which we inherited from the first republic. I’m not trying to apportion blame but I think we need to call a spade a spade while sanctions are the other reason,” Kazembe said.