Immigration Dept introduces scanners

By Freeman Razemba

The Department of Immigration is set to introduce iris scanning security machines to curb counterfeit travelling documents and acts of terrorism.

Speaking at the Awards of Excellency for the Department of Immigration last Thursday, Principal Immigration Director Mr Clemence Masango said the department had been undergoing restructuring since 2007.

He said they had so far registered a number of successes, which included computerisation of the department.

“We are also looking at introducing iris scanners as a way of curbing travel document fraud and also enhancing security. We know there is a lot of counterfeiting of documents and in this era of terrorism it is important that we improve on our security travel documents,” he said.

Mr Masango said the recently introduced online visa application processing facility had managed to stamp out corruption among the department’s officers.

“We manage to come up with an online visa application processing facility which has enhanced the way we deliver our services in that we have modernised. We have become more efficient and we have also significantly managed to reduce corruption mainly because there is no more personal contact between our officers and clients.

“Even revenue has significantly increased as this has also become a tool of plugging the loopholes. If resources permit, it is also the department’s vision to introduce a call centre to allow clients to call in on general inquiries or to register complaints or compliments,” he said.

Mr Masango said the awards were meant to recognise and reward service excellence, honesty and outstanding performance of the immigration officers.

He said this would not only motivate the recipients but other officers.

The awards were sponsored by Huawei Zimbabwe. Huawei Zimbabwe managing director Mr Albert Yang chronicled how the Immigration Department had continuously supported the company in processing visas and work permits for their global ICT experts to travel to the country for various projects.

“As a long-term investor and responsible corporate citizen in Zimbabwe, Huawei wishes to see a well-developed Zimbabwe,” he said. Chronicle