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No passport centres for Masvingo, Chiredzi
5 hrs ago |
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Residents of Chiredzi have raised concern over the absence of a passport office in the district, saying they are forced to travel long distances to access services that should be readily available locally.
Chiredzi, one of Zimbabwe's more populous towns, has no passport issuance centre, forcing applicants to travel to Neshuro Growth Point - about 200km away - or even further to Zvishavane, which is approximately 320km away. Some residents also travel to Harare due to limited nearby options.
Masvingo City, despite being a provincial capital and the country's fifth-largest urban centre, also does not have a passport office, compounding access challenges for residents across the province.
Local resident Kufakunesu Jiri described the situation as "illogical, careless and senseless," arguing that service centres should be located according to population size and demand in line with government decentralisation policy.
The issue was also discussed at a recent stakeholders' meeting in Chiredzi, where residents expressed frustration over the burden of travel and associated costs.
Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe said government plans are in place to establish passport offices in Masvingo as part of a broader decentralisation programme.
"It's on the programme… we want to construct passport offices in Masvingo urban," he said, adding that Mashonaland provinces are also part of the rollout plan.
However, he noted that the government currently lacks the resources to establish a passport office in Chiredzi, saying priority will be given to Masvingo for now.
Chiredzi Central MP Ropafadzo Makumire said the matter has been raised in Parliament, while Masvingo Urban MP Martin Mureri confirmed ongoing discussions on reopening or establishing a passport centre in Masvingo.
Residents, meanwhile, argue that the lack of nearby services is forcing some people - particularly those who work across the border in South Africa - to travel without passports due to the difficulty and cost of obtaining them locally.
Chiredzi, one of Zimbabwe's more populous towns, has no passport issuance centre, forcing applicants to travel to Neshuro Growth Point - about 200km away - or even further to Zvishavane, which is approximately 320km away. Some residents also travel to Harare due to limited nearby options.
Masvingo City, despite being a provincial capital and the country's fifth-largest urban centre, also does not have a passport office, compounding access challenges for residents across the province.
Local resident Kufakunesu Jiri described the situation as "illogical, careless and senseless," arguing that service centres should be located according to population size and demand in line with government decentralisation policy.
The issue was also discussed at a recent stakeholders' meeting in Chiredzi, where residents expressed frustration over the burden of travel and associated costs.
Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe said government plans are in place to establish passport offices in Masvingo as part of a broader decentralisation programme.
"It's on the programme… we want to construct passport offices in Masvingo urban," he said, adding that Mashonaland provinces are also part of the rollout plan.
However, he noted that the government currently lacks the resources to establish a passport office in Chiredzi, saying priority will be given to Masvingo for now.
Chiredzi Central MP Ropafadzo Makumire said the matter has been raised in Parliament, while Masvingo Urban MP Martin Mureri confirmed ongoing discussions on reopening or establishing a passport centre in Masvingo.
Residents, meanwhile, argue that the lack of nearby services is forcing some people - particularly those who work across the border in South Africa - to travel without passports due to the difficulty and cost of obtaining them locally.
Source - Mirror
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