Online Reporter
Daniel Chigunwe
Herald Correspondent
The Department of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, has been awarded the prestigious Best e-Government Initiative Award at the recent ICT Excellence Awards.
Hosted by the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, the ICT Excellence Awards is an annual event celebrating outstanding achievements in Zimbabwe’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
The event aims to foster innovation, excellence, and digital transformation in line with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy.
The Department of Immigration was recognised for its successful rollout and implementation of the Online Border Management System (OBMS) across all ports of entry and exit.
The OBMS is now fully operational, providing travellers with an end-to-end digital visa and immigration service.
This innovative system enables online visa applications and streamlined border clearance through electronic gates (e-gates) at major entry points, including Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, and Victoria Falls International Airports, as well as the Beitbridge border post.
Introduced under the ministry’s Smart Zimbabwe 2030 initiative, the OBMS is designed to simplify entry procedures, promote tourism and investment and strengthen security.
It also reduces congestion at ports of entry by allowing travelers to complete arrival forms and visa applications online, potentially even during their flight, shortening immigration processing times.
Commenting on the award, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, hailed the system as a milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to digitise public services and improve transparency and efficiency.
“The system is part of the Integrated ICT strategy being deployed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. The ministry developed a MOHACH ICT Integration Strategy in 2021, which was subsequently approved by the Cabinet,” said Minister Kazembe.
He highlighted that the strategy includes several key components, which are, Zimbabwe Population Registry System (ZPRS), managed by the Civil Registry, Police Integrated Information Management System (PIIMS) and Online Border Management System (OBMS)
“The OBMS is a game changer, providing efficiency and effectiveness for immigration. It is part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to modernise its travel infrastructure and enhance the visitor experience, aligning with global tourism trends that prioritise speed and convenience, driving us towards Vision 2030,” added Minister Kazembe.
Some of the OBMS’s standout features include, e-visa platform, which allows for online visa applications and payments, eliminating the need to visit embassies, and biometric checks, which enable faster, contactless passport verification using facial and fingerprint recognition.
Also, e-gates for automated border checkpoints that scan electronic passports for quick entry clearance and an e-permits platform letting users apply and pay for permits online from any smart device.
The Department of Immigration’s success at the ICT Excellence Awards underscores the Government’s commitment to digital innovation and transformative public service, setting a new benchmark for Zimbabwe’s progress towards a modern, technology-driven future.
