Staff Reporter
Government has commended the launch of the Zimbabwe Electronic Passport saying it meets the nation`s National Development Strategy One’s (NDS1) bid of attaining Vision 2030.
Speaking during the official opening of Bulawayo E-Passport Bio-enrolment centre: 2022, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe said, “The 14th of December 2021 marked the historic launch of the Zimbabwe Electronic Passport (e-passport) by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa. The launch and implementation of the e-passport project resonates with the National Development Strategy One (NDS1) objective to modernize the economy through the use of ICTs and digital technology, as we rally towards the attainment of Vision 2030.”
Minister Kazembe said that Bulawayo was the second province to have e-passports after Harare province.
“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 centers.
“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.”
The Minister revealed that Zimbabwe was a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which requires that member states take necessary measures to ensure the integrity, authenticity and security of travel and identity documents. He further said that the introduction of the new generation e-passport was therefore, fully compliant with ICAO standards and has enhanced security features to abate fraudulent activities.
Minister Kazembe highlighted that the enhanced security features will play a major role in combatting cross-border organized crime and illegal migration, thereby, bringing integrity to the migration system.
The Minister took this opportunity to announce that the Civil Registry Department will be embarking on a nationwide mobile registration exercise from 01 April 2022 to 30 September 2022 adding that this is in line with the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013, every person has a right to legal identity. My Ministry, through the Civil Registry Department therefore, has a constitutional obligation to ensure that every eligible person is bestowed with legal identity.”
