President Emmerson Mnangagwa will on Tuesday launch the Electronic Passport (E-Passport) that comes with more security features in order to protect against identity theft and counterfeiting of travel documents.
In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage said the Government was working with Garsu Pasaulis (GP) in the production of the electronic passport and on other vital civil registration documents.
The Ministry said all valid traditional passports (non-electronic) remain in use but when they expire and have to be renewed, citizens will be required to get e-passports. Below is the statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs on e-passports:
LAUNCH OF THE ELECTRONIC PASSPORT, BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE CDE DR E.D MNANGAGWA
Tomorrow, the 14th of December 2021, marks a historic day as his Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Coe Dr ED Mnangagwa is set to launch the Electronic Passport (E-Passport), at Chiwashira Building in Harare.
The Government of Zimbabwe is working with Garsu Pasaulis (GP), who is the implementation partner for the e-passport and the production of other vital civil registration documents, as has been previously stated.As a state party to Regional and International Conventions, Protocols and Treaties relating to the issuance of civil and travel documents, Zimbabwe’s introduction of the e-passport resonates with global best practices.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which is the specialised United Nations agency on aviation security and standards for international travel prescribes member states to adopt measures that safeguard the integrity and security of travel and identity documents.
Zimbabwe’s migration from the traditional passport to the e-passport conforms to the need to implement technology-aided improvements which safeguard immigration.
The launch of the new generation e-passport by His Excellency, constitutes an important milestone for Zimbabwe, as the nation adopts the e-passport which bears more robust security features.
The e-passport will protect the privacy of our citizens given the embedded features which protect against identity theft and counterfeiting of travel documents.
Apart from reasserting individual rights to privacy, the introduction of the e-passport will also provide enhanced security standards at our various Ports of Entry and Exit.
The historic introduction of the e-passport, therefore, reflects the adoption of smart technology by the Civil Registry Department, which is mandated to provide vital civil registration documents.
In the meantime, all valid traditional passports remain in use. However, upon expiry of the traditional non-electronic passport, our citizens will require to get e-passports on renewal of their travel documents, in line with the ICAO guidelines.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, through the Civil Registry Department, will keep the nation informed about any further developments surrounding the implementation of the e-passport programme, as the nation transitions from the use of the traditional non-electronic passports.