Passports, national registration offices closed

GOVERNMENT has closed the National Registration, Passport and Citizenship offices until further notice to prevent the spread of cholera.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said the issuance of passports and national registration cards to the public had been suspended until further notice.

Mr Kampyongo said officers would only be attending to travel emergencies, saying the public would in due course be advised as to when the offices would be reopened.

Mr Kampyongo stressed that the closure was temporal and appealed to the public not to panic as the measure was aimed at preventing the spread of cholera.

Mr Kampyongo explained that the move was meant to protect lives of clients and officers from cross contamination and contracting the disease.

He observed that the passports office and the national registration offices by nature of their operations attracted so many people which posed a health risk under the prevailing circumstances.

“As you may be aware these departments attract many people on daily basis, therefore it is important to protect the lives of our clients and officers from cross contamination and contracting disease," said Mr Kampyongo.

And Mr Kampyongo has warned residents in Kanyama to strictly observe the curfew, saying the law would catch up with those breached it.