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Wallace Ruzvidzo

Herald Reporter

Travellers will now spend less time processing their documents at the country’s ports of entry as Government is set to implement an online border management system that will incorporate visa and residence permits, as the Second Republic continues to deliver on its modernisation drive.

Issuance of the visas and permits will be supported by an integrated information communication technology system which is capable of sustainably handling demand for the services.

The partner will be the same company that helped with the new electronic passport.

Already, Government has expedited the rolling out of electronic passport production across the country.

This follows the successful launch of the electronic passport in 2021 after Zimbabwe entered into a partnership with a Lithuanian company, Garsu Pasaulis AUB on build, own, operate and transfer basis to produce the electronic passports.

These developments are well in line with Government’s thrust on ensuring service delivery and access to critical documents.

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said Government had engaged Garsu Pasauilis AUB to also implement the national biometric infrastructure, which will produce entry visas and residence permits.

“Cabinet considered and approved the Engagement of Garsu Pasaulis AUB on the Implementation of an Online Border Management System Incorporating Visa and Residence Permits, as proposed by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe.

“Cabinet highlights that Garsu Pasaulis has implemented the country’s system for the production of electronic passports based on biometric technology, including the roll-out of related services to all provinces,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government’s elimination of the then huge passport backlog was only testament that it was committed to ensuring proficient and efficient services for Zimbabweans. So Garsu Pasauilis’ contract had thus been extended.

“The remarkable transformation witnessed in the issuance of passports which has seen the backlog and queues wiped out in no time, gives testimony to Government’s due diligence and proficiency in engaging partners to implement projects.

“Accordingly, Cabinet agreed to extend the Garsu Pasauilis contract to cover the implementation of national biometric infrastructure capable of producing entry visas and residence permits.

“The issuance of the visas and permits will be supported by an integrated information communication technology system capable of sustainably handling demand for the services,” she said.

The incorporation of electronic visa and residence permits heralds the country’s entry into the era of smart technology in travel and identification documents and conforms with the dictates of regional and international conventions, protocols, and treaties that Zimbabwe is party to, particularly those relating to civil and travel documents.

The era of long queues and corrupt tendencies in the issuance of vital civil registration documents is indeed coming to an end.