ZIMBABWE’s digital passports processing has been placed on maintain indefinitely following a serious machine breakdown.
This comes at a time when there have been disputes between Kingdom 5 Zimbabwe a non-public firm contracted to hold out renovations on the Harare e-passport centre and its employees in addition to subcontracted firms over unpaid salaries.
Passport seekers on the Harare Registrar Basic’s workplace had been despatched again house Saturday by an official who mentioned there was an enormous breakdown of machines and that authorities will talk on the best way ahead.
In an audio recording heard by this publication, an official on the major workplace was heard telling folks to return house till additional discover.
“The processing machine has damaged down; are you able to please go house. Authorities will announce the best way ahead within the media,” mentioned the official.
“The entire nation has been affected and no passports are being processed in the meanwhile 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 every single place even in Bulawayo, even start certificates have been affected,” he mentioned.
Referred to as for remark to confirm the scenario on floor, Residence Affairs secretary Aaron Nhepera mentioned he was not aware of the developments on the bottom.
“I’m coming from Masvingo proper now and nobody has shared with me; it might be, however nobody has advised me but, I will likely be checking,” Nhepera mentioned.
Zimbabwe launched digital passports final December and the outdated passports will likely be out of date in December 2023.
Garsu Pasaulis a Lithuanian firm, was awarded the tender to supply them.
The introduction of recent passports was performed for safety and to clear the nation’s passport backlog which stood near 200 000 in January.
