The Republic of Zimbabwe has announced that it is planning to open offices in London and Botswana. This was after they announced that they now issued a staggering 1.6 million electronic passports, marking a transformative era in the nation’s administrative capabilities. The ambitious rollout, which began in 2022, represents a significant stride by the authorities to streamline access to critical travel documents for its citizens, both at home and abroad.
The central figure behind this monumental effort, Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri, confirmed the impressive statistics. He revealed that the programme’s success is rooted in a strategic and expanding network of enrolment centres designed to bring services closer to the people.
“The Government started issuing the e-passport in January 2022, and as of October 10 this year, 1,687,899 e-passports have been issued,” Mr Machiri stated in an exclusive discussion.
This figure underscores a massive logistical undertaking that has fundamentally changed how Zimbabweans obtain their passports, moving away from the protracted processes of the past.
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New Passport Offices For London And Botswana Announced
The service is no longer confined to major cities. A total of seventeen offices are now operational within the country’s borders, from Harare and Bulawayo to more recent additions in Mutare and Murehwa. Beyond Zimbabwe, the Johannesburg office has been serving the large diaspora community in South Africa. However, the government is not resting on its laurels and has set its sights on a truly global outreach.
Mr Machiri confirmed the next phase of this expansion, detailing plans to establish a presence on two new continents.
“We will open before year end: Hwedza, London and Botswana,” he added.
This move is strategically aimed at catering to the substantial Zimbabwean populations residing in the United Kingdom and Botswana, offering them direct access to state-of-the-art passport services without the need to travel back home.
A Diplomatic Push for Enhanced Services
The international expansion is part of a broader, concerted government effort to bolster its diplomatic and consular footprint worldwide. The new passport office in London will be housed within a purpose-built diplomatic complex, a project that is currently under construction. This initiative falls under a broader agenda of image-building and engagement, for which the Treasury has allocated significant resources.
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Presenting the 2025 National Budget, the Minister of Finance, Economic and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, affirmed the government’s commitment. A substantial sum of ZiG $4 billion was set aside to spearhead this re-engagement agenda, which includes establishing new missions and upgrading existing ones.
Furthermore, there are advanced plans to open an office in New York, USA, signalling Zimbabwe’s intent to provide comprehensive services for its citizens on a global scale. This widespread decentralisation of vital services directly addresses long-standing recommendations from advocacy groups for improved access to documentation.
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The post Zimbabwe Announces New Passport Offices For London And Botswana appeared first on iHarare News.
