ZIMBABWE’s digital passports processing has been placed on maintain indefinitely following a significant machine breakdown.
This comes at a time when there have been disputes between Kingdom 5 Zimbabwe a personal firm contracted to hold out renovations on the Harare e-passport centre and its staff in addition to subcontracted corporations over unpaid salaries.
Passport seekers on the Harare Registrar Normal’s workplace have been despatched again dwelling Saturday by an official who mentioned there was an enormous breakdown of machines and that authorities will talk on the way in which ahead.
In an audio recording heard by this publication, an official on the fundamental workplace was heard telling folks to return dwelling till additional discover.
“The processing machine has damaged down; are you able to please go dwelling. Authorities will announce the way in which ahead within the media,” mentioned the official.
“The entire nation has been affected and no passports are being processed in the mean time due to that.
“This isn’t a small breakdown, it’s a main breakdown. Watch out for thieves and scammers who will attempt to steal your cash by mendacity they can assist you course of passports.
“Nothing is working, in all places even in Bulawayo, even delivery certificates have been affected,” he mentioned.
Known as for remark to confirm the state of affairs on floor, Dwelling Affairs secretary Aaron Nhepera mentioned he was not aware about the developments on the bottom.
“I’m coming from Masvingo proper now and nobody has shared with me; it may very well be, however nobody has advised me but, I might be checking,” Nhepera mentioned.
Zimbabwe launched digital passports final December and the outdated passports might be out of date in December 2023.
Garsu Pasaulis a Lithuanian firm, was awarded the tender to provide them.
The introduction of latest passports was achieved for safety and to clear the nation’s passport backlog which stood near 200 000 in January.
