marble nkomo
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE long awaited construction of the Filabusi Registry Office is finally edging towards completion, carrying with it a sense of quiet triumph and renewed hope for communities in Insiza District who, for years, have endured the exhausting reality of travelling long distances to access basic documentation services.
What was once spoken of with resignation and disbelief is now taking visible shape, brick by brick, as a promise long deferred begins to materialise.
For more than a decade, the project existed largely as an aspiration, its unfinished shell standing as a reminder of stalled progress. Today, however, it has become one of the legacy developments being rolled out across Matabeleland South ahead of this year’s Independence Day celebrations at Maphisa Stadium. Its revival feels symbolic, a sign that long standing inertia is giving way to decisive action, particularly in communities that have often felt left behind.
In January, Government released ZWG$20 million towards the project, breathing life into a building that had stood dormant for more than two decades.
The delay had placed an immense burden on residents, many of whom were forced to make costly and time consuming trips to Bulawayo or Gwanda simply to obtain essential documents. For families with limited means, those journeys were not just inconvenient; they were prohibitive.
The Filabusi Registry Office forms part of a broader nationwide infrastructure drive under Vision 2030, guided by a philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind. Across the province, once abandoned projects are being revived, signaling a shift from promises to delivery and restoring public confidence in development programmes that touch daily life.
Once operational, the facility will allow residents of Insiza District to apply for passports and other travel documents locally, a development expected to dramatically improve service delivery. At present, registry staff in Filabusi operate from cramped and inadequate office space, offering only birth and death certificates and national identity documents. The new building promises not just expanded services, but dignity and efficiency where scarcity once defined the experience.
The story of the registry office mirrors the frustrations of many public projects. Construction began in 2004 but stalled two years later due to financial constraints. A brief revival in 2018 raised hopes, only for work to stop again in 2019.
It was not until January this year, following renewed Government funding, that the project regained real momentum, setting it firmly back on course.
For local residents, the visible progress has brought a sense of optimism that had all but faded. Ms Patience Nkomo said the near completion of the building had renewed confidence within the community.
“We now have hope that in the coming weeks we will be able to obtain our documents locally. For years, we have watched this project stall, but this time there is visible progress.
“We are grateful to Government for finally bringing this development to our area,” she said.
Mr Busani Moyo echoed those sentiments, describing the development as a long awaited relief for residents of smaller towns that have relied heavily on urban centres for basic public services.
“It is encouraging to see such infrastructure coming to Filabusi. Accessing documents has always meant travelling long distances, which is costly and inconvenient,” he said.
From a technical perspective, the project’s renewed pace has been deliberate and intense. Matabeleland South Provincial Public Works Director, Engineer Sijabuliso Ncube, said construction had accelerated significantly in the first quarter of the year following improved funding.
“We received ZWG$20 million from Government in January, which enabled us to accelerate construction. Full scale works commenced on 19 January, and we adopted a 24 hour working schedule to meet our targets,” he said.
For the provincial leadership, the Filabusi Registry Office represents more than bricks and mortar. Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, described the project as part of a concerted effort to close critical development gaps in the province. He noted that once completed, the facility would also ease congestion at registry offices in Bulawayo and Gwanda, as it is expected to serve surrounding districts.
“I am pleased to see this project, which had stalled for many years, nearing completion.
“It will bring much needed relief to communities that have had to travel long distances to access these services,” he said. Reflecting on the broader developmental momentum.
“Hosting this year’s Independence Day celebrations has accelerated development in the province. Government has not only initiated legacy projects but has also ensured that they are completed timeously through the provision of resources. This is a clear demonstration of the Second Republic’s commitment to delivery.”
Minister Nguluvhe emphasised that development would not end with the celebrations, noting that work on legacy projects would continue as Government consolidates its gains across Matabeleland South. For Filabusi residents, the nearing completion of the registry office stands as a powerful affirmation that patience, though long tested, has not been in vain.
Online Reporter