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Funds shortage stalls construction of Mzilikazi Registry Office
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A shortage of funds has stalled the construction of the registry office in Mzilikazi high-density suburb, Bulawayo, a Cabinet minister has revealed.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe told Parliament recently that financial constraints have halted progress on the project.
Speaking in the National Assembly last week, Kazembe stated that the Mzilikazi registry was currently operating in offices that previously housed the Pumula sub-offices. He was responding to a question raised by Pumula legislator Sichelesile Mahlangu, who had inquired about the government's plans to address the challenges at the Mzilikazi registry.
"The office has two rooms, which are inadequate to accommodate all the staff. We secured the stand for the construction of the Mzilikazi registry, but due to a lack of funds, the process has been halted," he said.
Kazembe noted that the interim office was staffed with one registrar and two processing officers responsible for issuing birth certificates, processing about 15 birth certificates per day.
"The total staff complement approved by the Public Service Commission includes one registrar, 10 processing officers, and one office orderly. Currently, there is only a registrar and two processing officers," he said.
He added that seven staff members were currently stationed at the Bulawayo district and provincial registry offices to capture birth certificate information, as the Mzilikazi/Pumula district registry was not yet computerised.
"We are going to transfer two processing officers back to the substation while five will remain in Bulawayo provincial and district registry offices to cater for Mzilikazi services. Meanwhile, the ministry is looking for alternative accommodation to house the full complement of staff approved by the Public Service Commission," he said.
Kazembe assured that the government intends to build a larger facility to accommodate all the approved staff, once funding becomes available.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe told Parliament recently that financial constraints have halted progress on the project.
Speaking in the National Assembly last week, Kazembe stated that the Mzilikazi registry was currently operating in offices that previously housed the Pumula sub-offices. He was responding to a question raised by Pumula legislator Sichelesile Mahlangu, who had inquired about the government's plans to address the challenges at the Mzilikazi registry.
"The office has two rooms, which are inadequate to accommodate all the staff. We secured the stand for the construction of the Mzilikazi registry, but due to a lack of funds, the process has been halted," he said.
"The total staff complement approved by the Public Service Commission includes one registrar, 10 processing officers, and one office orderly. Currently, there is only a registrar and two processing officers," he said.
He added that seven staff members were currently stationed at the Bulawayo district and provincial registry offices to capture birth certificate information, as the Mzilikazi/Pumula district registry was not yet computerised.
"We are going to transfer two processing officers back to the substation while five will remain in Bulawayo provincial and district registry offices to cater for Mzilikazi services. Meanwhile, the ministry is looking for alternative accommodation to house the full complement of staff approved by the Public Service Commission," he said.
Kazembe assured that the government intends to build a larger facility to accommodate all the approved staff, once funding becomes available.
Source - southern eye
