Passport, ID applications go online

THE Civil Registry Department (CRD) will this year launch an online platform for passport and national identity card applications to improve access to the vital civic documents.

The authorities are currently finalising the upgrade of the Zimbabwe Population Registry System (ZPRS), the official platform that stores and manages demographic data of all Zimbabwean citizens, which is managed by the CRD.

The ZPRS database contains information on each individual’s name, date of birth, sex, nationality, marital status, place of birth and place of residence.

It also contains information on each individual’s national identity number.

The database is being linked to several Government departments, including hospitals, where it will be used to facilitate instant registration of births and deaths.

Government has already secured the high-tech equipment, including servers, to be used for the digital migration before the online application platform for civic documents goes live by year-end.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said: “The department has already started deploying the enhanced Zimbabwe Population Registry System, also known as ZPRS, which will ultimately lead to the provision of online services.

“This is the second phase of the same project that has resulted in the efficiency of e-passport production.

“This is work in progress, contrary to fake social media reports that the department is now issuing passports using online services.

“We are still busy deploying this system.”

Minister Kazembe said the new system was cost-effective and efficient.

“The servers are already in the country, and this is work in progress.

“Once this is done, it then means the services the department offers will