Zimbabweans Say The New Consulate Is A Welcome Development In Processing Documentation
By Owen Mandovha
THE new e-passport office at the Consulate of the Republic of Zimbabwe in Johannesburg, South Africa marks the beginning of easy access to passport services to Zimbabwean nationals around the world in fulfilment of the ‘leaving no one and no place behind’ mantra.
The opening of the e-passport office follows the commissioning of a new consulate building of the Republic of Zimbabwe in South Africa and is expected to bring the passport service to the doorsteps of Zimbabweans dotted around the globe.
“The opening of this new Consulate resembles the need to harness ties between our two countries as Zimbabwe and South Africa have immense trade between them.
“We are harnessing that by ensuring that we broaden the provision of key services to the population staying here in South Africa to ensure that our foreign policy thrust is fulfilled,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Fredrick Shava.
The South African government acknowledges the development as a step in harnessing trade relations between the two countries.
Acting Deputy Director in South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Tebogo Seakolo said, “This passport brings to five the number of passport offices established by fellow countries here and we see this as a milestone in reinforcing the trade relations between Zimbabwe and South Africa.”
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe said the opening of the office is in fulfilment of the Second Republic’s pledge to provide access to passport services to Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
“The President promised that passport services should be availed to all people and those living in the diaspora.
“That promise has been fulfilled so far and we are happy that government has opened the first-ever passport office in a foreign country, realising the goal of the government of leaving no one and no place behind. Zimbabweans have been suffering to simply access a passport, so we are saying let’s go beyond the country’s borders to serve our people,” he said.
Zimbabweans in South Africa expressed appreciation to the government for this move.
“We just heard about the President’s vision and this is a testament that no one will be left behind,” said one of the beneficiaries. Another added, “In the past we used to lose money sending it home to process the passports but this has brought us a lot of convenience.”
“We applaud the Government for reducing the burden on us in saving time and providing cost-effectiveness in applying for passports,” another noted.
As Zimbabweans welcomed this momentous development, plans are afoot to establish more e-passport biometric enrolment centres in Africa including Zambia and as far as Europe, as it fulfils one of the development pillars of leaving no one and no place behind. – Source: Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
