By Thobekile Khumalo
The government will soon complete the construction of e-passport centers in Hwange and Lupane districts, Matabeleland North province in a bid to improve access of traveling documents to people living in rural areas and clear passport backlog in the country.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) arrested at least 89 000 border jumpers this past festive season in the Beitbridge border post in a bid to curb cross border crime.
Minister of Home Affairs, Kazembe Kazembe said they are working as government in decentralising offices in order to reduce border jumpers.
“The government is already seized with decentralisation of the offices as evidenced by the construction of e-passport centers in Hwange and Lupane districts.
“We have also commissioned offices at Murambinda in Mashonaland East, Chitungwiza, Guruve in Mashonaland Central. We are on the verge of commissioning Murehwa and a few others that are in line particularly in Mashonaland South,” he said.
The objective is to make sure that each district can facilitate passport applications and no community is left behind.
“The objective is to ensure each and every district can facilitate applications for travel documents.
“Talking of e-passports , GP which has partnered government on this project and is already seized with preparatory work to bring the services to the other provinces. I’m aware that they are already working on the Bulawayo renovations. This project is in phases but when it’s complete people will be able to apply for travel documents online . Availing online services is the best way to decentralise,” said Minister Kazembe.
He added that however, there should still be offices in districts that should offer these services and government has already started working on the this program.
