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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede says his department had to close 100 sub-offices countrywide due to a Government-mandated recruitment freeze. The sub-offices were to bring services closer to people across the country.
Mr Mudede said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services on Monday.

“The reduction from 306 sub-offices to 206 was because of the manning levels. We do not have enough manpower because of the Government freeze,” he said.

The RG’s department has 10 provincial offices, 63 districts offices and the 206 sub-offices responsible for the issuance of various documents.

Mr Mudede also bemoaned delays in completing the Central Registry Offices in Harare that have been under construction for more than 10 years now, saying this was partly responsible for congestion at the current offices that also house other Government departments.

“We would have wanted the new offices completed as soon as yesterday, it would result improvements on the speed of doing our work as we can have more offices to attend to people,” he said.

He said at least US$1 million was needed to complete the project, which is 98 percent complete.

Mr Mudede admitted that some officers had been caught engaging in corruption and had been dealt with accordingly.

“We do have cases of corruption and in some cases it’s our officers conniving with members of the public. However, whenever we have such cases they are dealt according to dictates of the law and we have had to fire some people for engaging in corruption,” Mr Mudede said.