HARARE – The Civil Registry Department is now issuing E-passports within seven days with the service now available at eight of its district and seven provincial offices, a cabinet Minister has said.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said this on Tuesday during the post-Cabinet media briefing.
He said this was part of the report that his Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage counterpart Kazembe Kazembe had presented to Cabinet on progress that his Ministry has made in implementing its ICT systems Integration Strategy.
Dr Muswere said the Zimbabwe Population Registry System has seen 73 Registry offices being computerized while the Online Border Management System is at an advanced stage with test runs for online visa applications being conducted.
Work is also underway on the Forensic Laboratory Management System with some forensic equipment having been received.
“As the nation may recall, the Integrated Information and Communication Technology Systems Strategy in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage aims at automating work processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and to integrate ICT systems within the Ministry as well as with outsiders,” said Dr Muswere.
“The implementation of the project should facilitate ease of doing business, which is the Second Republic’s mantra.
“The Ministry is moving forward in implementing the strategy in order to modernise and automate systems and contribute to the early attainment of Vision 2030 in 2028 as pronounced by Excellency the President.”
The Strategy, which is being implemented in phases, comprises the Zimbabwe Population Registry System, the Online Border Management System, the Police Integrated Information Management System, the Traffic Management System, the Forensic Laboratory Management System and the Electronic Document and Records Management System.
Speaking at the same occasion, Kazembe said work has already started on the Traffic Management System with the police having submitted its needs assessment and equipment that is required and a number of potential suppliers including some that have carried out similar work in the Western world, having already approached the government seeking partnerships.
“So its work in progress and in fact we should be able to start implementing the system this year, the other pillars that the Minister has spoken about, work is already in progress,” he said.
He said the forensic laboratory information management system is going to enable analysis of crime evidence while DNA tests will be undertaken locally as will be the testing for drug and substance abuse with the equipment now at hand. New Ziana
Make it available in all districts. There’s too much corruption at provincial offices
What about in SA