The Civil Registry Department is taking steps to modernize civic services in Zimbabwe. Officials are finalizing an upgrade to the national population registry system, which contains identification and residency records for all citizens.
Once complete, the enhanced database will facilitate online applications for passports and national IDs. According to the Home Affairs Minister, the government has acquired necessary servers and technology for the digital transition. By year’s end, Zimbabweans should be able to apply for vital documents from the convenience of home.
The system aims to streamline processes and improve access. Upon launching, it will integrate with healthcare agencies to allow real-time birth registrations directly from hospitals. Sadly, some presumes the update means online applications have started, which the Minister was quick to deny as work continues behind the scenes.
Rural inclusion remains a priority too. Chiefs will soon use tablets to record village births, later submitting forms electronically. This pandemic-inspired innovation could help register offspring whose home births go unreported.
Already, over 100,000 biometric e-passports have issued following the first stage rollout last year. Additional regional offices now process applications, indicating momentum. When complete, the centralized population database promises a more efficient experience for the public to obtain proper documentation and exercise their rights as citizens. Citizens eagerly await this next step toward digital Government services.
