Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
THE Department of Immigration has introduced seven online modules which embrace digitisation facilities to efficiently process travellers and visas for those intending to visit or use the country’s ports of entry.
So far, at Beitbridge Border Post, the department is making use of automated gate systems, commonly referred to as eGates, which allow travellers with new biometric passports to enter or depart Zimbabwe with minimal human interaction, enhancing both convenience and security.
In addition, they are also making use of the electronic visa and compliance systems, which have seen the time travellers spend at the ports of entry reducing.
The latest move is part of the Government’s drive to match service delivery in line with a modernised Beitbridge Border Post.
The Assistant Regional Immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge border post, Mrs Canisia Magaya said the department was running on seven modules, which include; registry, eVisa, ePermits, eGates, entry/exit, compliance, advanced passengers’ information and passenger name record and the security and audit.
She was speaking during a field visit to the border post by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development on Sunday.
The team wanted to familiarise with the scope or work and monitor the implementation of projects under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, among them the border transformation and the construction of five major out-of-port projects within Beitbridge town.
These include a new fire station, a 11, 4 mega litres water reservoir, 220 houses for border agencies, an animal plant and quarantine centre, a sewer oxidation dam, among others.
“As we move with global trends, we have now embraced seven online modules to offer seamless services to travellers and our clients as part of the country’s broader efforts to modernise its ports of entry,” said Mrs Magaya.
“At Beitbridge we are currently using the eVisa, ePermits, compliance and the entry and exit modules while others are being gradually introduced.
“The eGates enables travellers to scan their biometric passports and undergo automated identity verification, replacing the need for manual passport checks by border officials.
“This system has significantly reduced waiting times and improved the efficiency of border control procedures.”
She said more modules will be introduced in due course and that with eVisa and ePermits travellers are able to process these online before getting to the desired port of entry where the compliance module is effected.
Mrs Magaya said the use of digital platforms was part of the Department’s thrust to embrace the ease of doing business.
In addition to the eGates, the department has also upgraded the Online Border Management System (OBMS).
The new immigration system is complementary to the current automation system at the border, where most services are now being digitised.
The OBMS can capture travellers’ bio-data, picking flagged travellers, auto-generating days for visitors, for example, allocating 30 days for those visitors travelling on holidays, seven days for business travel and three days for those transiting through our country.
Mrs Magaya said the use of electronic systems eliminates a lot of bottlenecks that come with the use of manual systems at the port of entry.
