Civil Registry Department open on election day

Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent

National registration offices will be opened today countrywide for those intending to register and collect birth certificates, death certificates, national identity documents and passports.

The Civil Registry Department is the legal authority responsible for issuing vital civil registration documents in Zimbabwe.

The offices will be open from 7am to 7pm and the passport collections office will also be open during the same times.

In a statement, the Department said, despite the mop-up exercise, they noticed a countrywide influx of members of the public intending to replace their lost or stolen national identity documents.

“The Civil Registration Department wishes to advise members of the public that it will open its national registration offices countrywide for the convenience of those who wish to obtain national identity documents,” said the department.

“The Civil Registry Department wishes to advise its valued clients that the issuance of e-Passports is done at registry offices countrywide in Harare, Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Gwanda, Gweru, Lupane, Marondera, Beitbridge, Chitungwiza, Hwange, Murehwa, Mazowe District Office and Zvishavane District Registry. Clients who intend to apply for their e-passports are encouraged to visit any of the listed offices with their original birth certificate, national Identity document and marriage certificates.

“The Civil Registry Department offers ordinary passports at US$120 which is issued after 7 working days, and emergency or express passports at US$220 issued after 48 hours. The e-passport office working hours are between 7.45am and 4.45pm, Monday to Friday except for public holidays.”

The department said all e-passport centers do not limit the number of people served during its normal working hours as it is committed to improving service delivery in line with Vision 2030 through decentralisation of services so that no one and no place is left behind.

The department conducted a national mobile registration exercise which commenced in April 2022 and a mop-up exercise which ended on July 31, 2023.

During the exercise, the department issued birth certificates, death certificates and national identity documents to members of the public in order to enable them to register to vote in the 2023 harmonised general elections.