Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE Filabusi Registry Office in Insiza District is set to be completed ahead of this year’s Independence Day commemorations after construction reached 92 percent, with workers now operating on a 24-hour schedule to meet deadlines.
The project is one of several legacy developments being implemented in Matabeleland South ahead of the 2026 Independence Day celebrations scheduled for April 18 in Maphisa, Matobo District.
The Government released ZiG20 million in January to revive the project, which had stalled for more than two decades, forcing locals to travel long distances to access critical civil registration services.
Once complete, the registry office will allow residents of Insiza District to obtain passports and other travel documents locally, reducing reliance on offices in Bulawayo and Gwanda.
At the moment, Registry Department staff in Filabusi operate from limited office space where only birth certificates, death certificates and national identity cards are processed.
Construction of the registry offices began in 2004 before work stopped in 2006 due to financial constraints. The project resumed in 2018, stalled again in 2019, and restarted in January this year.
Matabeleland South provincial Public Works Director Engineer Sijabuliso Ncube, said the building would be completed within a week.
“The project is now at 92 percent and we expect it to be completed in a week, which means it will be ready by Independence Day. We commenced full-scale works on 19 January and over the past weeks our teams have been working 24 hours,” he said.
Eng Ncube said major works currently underway include plastering of the main block, ring beam concreting for the ablution block, brickwork, ceiling installation, electrical fittings, wiring, painting and floor tiling.
Outstanding works include glazing, final painting and construction of manholes, septic tanks and soakaways.
Eng Ncube said timely release of funds by the Government had accelerated implementation.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction, saying the facility would ease congestion at registry offices in Bulawayo and Gwanda while serving neighbouring districts.
“I’m happy to see this project, which had stalled for so many years, near its completion. This registry office is a crucial facility as it will bring relief to people who have had to travel to Gwanda to obtain documents,” he said.
Minister Nguluvhe said the project reflects the Government’s devolution agenda and the Second Republic’s commitment to inclusive development.
“Hosting this year’s Independence Day Celebrations has come with significant development. We have seen Government initiate legacy projects and then move further to ensure timeous completion of the projects by availing funds. This is a great achievement for Matabeleland South,” he said.
A Filabusi resident, Ms Patience Nkomo, said the community had renewed hope after seeing sustained progress on the building.
“We have hope that in the next month we will be obtaining our documents from this office as we have seen that this time around it’s being constructed to be completed. I heard that this development comes with the province hosting this year’s Independence Day Celebrations,” she said.
“We are grateful to the Government for giving us this opportunity as we have long been left out in development.” — @DubeMatutu.
Bongani Ndlovu