Zimpapers Logo

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
THE Government has established a Civil Registry sub-office at Murambinda Growth Point as part of efforts by the Registrar General’s department to ensure all citizens have access to identity documents.

Work on the sub-office began last year through an initiative by the community and the Member of Parliament for Buhera West, Cde Soul Nzuma.

The Murambinda sub-office is one of 206 sub-offices that have been established countrywide and is expected to service people at the growth point and beyond, who have been travelling up to 30 km to access registry offices in Buhera and Gaza.

Speaking at the official opening of the office last week, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said the sub- office would provide the basic human right of access to documentation.

“Murambinda is the biggest growth point with the highest population in Buhera and has indeed become a town designate, which is developing at a monumental pace. By providing this basic human right to the general populace, the ministry contributes immensely towards economic revival and the attainment of vision 2030,” he said.

He said by virtue of Murambinda Mission Hospital, the district’s largest referral health institution, being located within the growth point, it was prudent for the civil registry to be established to offer the much needed services.

Cde Kazembe said the Government had taken a deliberate stance to decentralise operation and infrastructure development to improve service delivery.

He also said mobile registration exercises would continue being offered to communities in consultation with community leaders.

The Registrar General’s office last year carried out mobile registrations in Chimanimani and Chipinge to assist victims of Cyclone Idai to replace identity documents lost during the disaster and allow those who had no documents, an opportunity to get them.

A total of 49 091 people in Chimanimani and Chipinge received documentation during the exercise.

Minister Kazembe encouraged citizens not to wait for emergencies and major events like elections to access documentation.

Acting Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri said the participation of communities in the development of civil registry offices was vital as it allowed the department to establish offices where they can be easily accessed.

“The department has come up with measures to enhance vital civil registration through decentralisation and computerisation of services. It is the desire of the Civil registry department to ensure that clients do not travel long distances to access services,” he said.

He encouraged communities to utilise the office to get birth registration for their children on time especially those living with disability.