Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT is taking steps to address the operational challenges plaguing the Chipinge Civil Registry office, with the aim of enhancing the quality of service delivered to the public.
Speaking on the sidelines of a tour of the offices, which are housed at the government complex, Special Advisor to the President on Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects, Dr Jorum Gumbo emphasised the need for the offices to be equipped and resourced to provide seamless services to citizens. The registry issues critical documents, including passports, birth certificates, and national identity cards.
Dr Gumbo’s visit follows revelations that the offices lack essential services and amenities, including ablution facilities for clients, reliable internet, solar backup power, and materials to print certificates.
Additionally, the Chipinge CBZ bank branch has yet to be established, forcing clients to travel to the bank’s central business district branch to pay for passport fees, exposing them to potential theft.
The lack of basic amenities and services has resulted in inefficiencies and inconvenience for citizens seeking essential documents, underscoring the need for Government intervention to resolve these issues and improve service delivery.
“We are here to assess the impact of the Chipinge Passport office, which was decentralised in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no person or place behind. It is pleasing to note that people are travelling from as far as Chiredzi, Chivi, and Bikita to access documents here,” said Dr Gumbo.
Chipinge District Registrar, Mr Nascimento Katawara said the establishment of the passport office has proved to be a masterstroke, as there is a high demand for travel documents from people in the area who frequently visit Mozambique, South Africa, and other nations.
“We are operating at full capacity, serving mainly residents of Manicaland and some parts of Masvingo province. We sometimes face power outages, which disrupt our operations, and we recommend that the offices have solar backup power to supplement the generator. The internet here is unreliable, and we have some services that require internet availability. On a daily basis, we serve around 100 e-passport clients, issue 30-50 birth certificates, 20 duplicate birth certificates, and 70-100 national identity cards,” he said.
Mr Tungamirai Dhliwayo from Chibuwe, who was applying for a passport, said the service at the registry office is generally good but called for the bank to be present.
