News / National
Zimbabwe passport production centre gutted down by fire
01 Jan 2011 at 03:33hrs | Views
Harare - The Identification production centre for passports based at KG Six Army Headquarters in Harare was on Friday gutted down by fire shattering hopes of many Zimbabweans who were hoping to get passports so that they could beat South Africa's deadline to regularise their stay in that country.
The deadline was on Friday. The SA government said on Friday it had received about 230 000 applications from Zimbabweans who are avoiding deportations.
The gutting of the identification centre in Harare forced suspension of business. This came at a time when Zimbabwe turned down an offer for a passport making machine by South Africa.
"The production centre is on fire we were nearly burnt inside the building," a source told Radio VOP.
The centre is used to verification of applicants and production of passport books.
Radio VOP could not immediately ascertain the cause of the fire and if there were any people injured or how much damage was done to the building.
The co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone could not confirm to the fire outbreak. She promised to come back with a confirmation after ascertaining but had not done so by the time of writing.
"I am on holiday and not aware about that but let me find out and I will come back to you," said Makone.
Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede was not available for comment either
The deadline was on Friday. The SA government said on Friday it had received about 230 000 applications from Zimbabweans who are avoiding deportations.
The gutting of the identification centre in Harare forced suspension of business. This came at a time when Zimbabwe turned down an offer for a passport making machine by South Africa.
"The production centre is on fire we were nearly burnt inside the building," a source told Radio VOP.
The centre is used to verification of applicants and production of passport books.
Radio VOP could not immediately ascertain the cause of the fire and if there were any people injured or how much damage was done to the building.
The co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone could not confirm to the fire outbreak. She promised to come back with a confirmation after ascertaining but had not done so by the time of writing.
"I am on holiday and not aware about that but let me find out and I will come back to you," said Makone.
Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede was not available for comment either
Source - Byo24
