Masvingo passport office 'too small' for e-passport operations

The reopening of passport offices in Masvingo has been delayed, with government confirming that the existing facilities are too small to support the electronic passport system.

Responding in Parliament, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira said the current offices at the Masvingo Provincial Registry cannot accommodate the infrastructure required for the Zimbabwe e-passport programme.

As a result, authorities have opted to construct a new, purpose-built facility before services can resume. The government has engaged its private partner, Garsu Pasaulis, to assist with building a modern registry office similar to the one recently commissioned in Mutare.

Murwira indicated that the rollout of e-passport services in Masvingo will only begin once the new infrastructure is completed, with engagements on construction still underway.

The delay means residents in the province will continue to face challenges accessing passport services. Currently, many are forced to travel to other provinces such as Harare and Midlands, incurring additional costs and inconvenience. Although there is an operational centre in Mwenezi District, it remains largely inaccessible for most people across the province.

Zimbabwe introduced the e-passport system in January 2022 as part of efforts to modernise travel documentation and improve security. Since then, nearly 1.8 million electronic passports have been issued nationwide, but gaps in infrastructure continue to limit equitable access in some regions.