Online Reporter
Sione Amidu [email protected]
VILLAGERS in Filabusi have applauded Government for fast-tracking the completion of the Filabusi Registry Offices in Insiza District following the recent release of additional funds.
Government last month allocated ZiG20 million towards completing the long-awaited facility. The project, which had stalled for more than two decades, is being revived under the Second Republic’s thrust of leaving no one and no place behind in national development.
Construction of the building began in 2004 but stopped in 2006 due to financial constraints. It was revived in 2018 before stalling again in 2019. Works resumed in January this year and the project is now nearing completion.
Once operational, the facility will enable communities in Insiza District to access passports and other essential documents locally. At present, residents travel to Bulawayo or Gwanda for such services, as Filabusi registry staff operate from limited offices where they only issue birth and death certificates and national identity cards.
Completion of the Filabusi Registry Offices is therefore expected to ease long-standing challenges for villagers who have endured long distances and additional costs to access documentation.
The project is also anticipated to boost local businesses that stand to benefit from increased foot traffic.
“We are happy as we are going to have a lot of customers nearby. These offices are going to accommodate a lot of people, which is an advantage to us as vendors. Our businesses will be brisk,” said Ms Thembelihle Moyo, a vendor.
Mr Thathani Ncube (53) said the new registry offices would significantly reduce travel expenses for residents who have relied on distant centres for years.
“For the past 22 years, the people of Insiza have been struggling, travelling to as far as Gwanda and Bulawayo to get these documents. We thought our place had been forgotten and left behind in the country’s development agenda.
“We are seeing the Second Republic working on all the unfinished projects. We are very happy that we will now be operating from our district without any added travelling costs. This project is going to change the lives of everyone in the district,” he said.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, said the Second Republic was fulfilling its promises and ensuring no community was left out.
He said lives in Insiza would be transformed once the registry offices open.
“This project is a fulfilment of the president’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind. People from this district have been traveling long distances to as far as Bulawayo and Gwanda to get their documents done. The completion of this project will make life easy for them.
“This is a great achievement for the people of Matabeleland South as a whole. The coming of the Second Republic has transformed the lives of everyone. The project will be complete before independence. This is a huge milestone, the President is indeed a listening leader, he heard our cries,” said Minister Nguluvhe.
