By Fanuel Chinowaita
The Manicaland Provincial Registrar’s Office has issued about 30 000 passports since the end of September following the completion of a state-of-the-art civil registry facility in Mutare, provincial registrar Joyce Munamati has said.
Munamati made the remarks yesterday during a media tour led by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, as Government showcased service delivery improvements under the Second Republic.
She said the modernisation of the Registrar-General’s offices has significantly improved efficiency and reduced long-standing backlogs for civil documents.
“Since the end of September, we have issued about 30 000 passports here in Manicaland. The completion of this state-of-the-art facility has significantly reduced queues for birth certificates, national identity cards and passports,” said Munamati.
She said applicants currently pay US$170 for a passport processed within seven working days, while those opting for expedited service pay US$270 for processing within three working days.
Munamati clarified that the Mutare office does not offer a same-day or emergency passport service.
During the visit, The Wasu Post observed that there were no queues at the Registrar’s Office, a sharp contrast to scenes that previously characterised civil registry centres across the country.
However, a different perspective emerged from within the office. Speaking to this publication on condition of anonymity, one staff member attributed the absence of queues largely to the high cost of passports.
“There is no queue because passports are very expensive. If they were affordable, you would see long queues here,” said the worker.
The comments highlight the tension between improved administrative efficiency and affordability, as demand for travel documents appears constrained by pricing despite faster processing times and improved infrastructure.
Government officials say the upgraded Registrar’s Office is part of broader public sector reforms aimed at improving access to services and restoring public confidence.
Whether reduced queues reflect efficiency gains alone or suppressed demand due to costs remains a subject of public debate.