Leaking roof at central registry destroys birth records and passports

Sharon Munjenjema

An unspecified number of birth records and passports were destroyed by the rains at the Central Registry headquarters building in Harare due to a leaking roof.

This was revealed recently in a briefing between central registry officials and members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services who had come to assess service delivery at the registry.

The Acting -Registrar General Mr Henry Machiri told the legislators that heavy rains experienced in the country recently found their way into the building’s storage and destroyed a significant number of passports and birth records which have to be reproduced again.

He said government’s public works department is aware of the leaking roof, and other unfinished works on the building that make the central registry a dangerous work environment, but are taking their time to fix the problems.

Speaking to ZTN News after the tour, the acting Registrar General said:

“Some of the issues we raised with them were the issue of outstanding works that still need to be done on this building.

“Recently we had rains coming in through a leaking roof and destroying some passports and other documents.”

Also speaking to ZTN News after the tour, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services Chairperson, Brigadier General (Retired) Levi Mayihlome called on the relevant government departments to respond quickly to problems being faced at the central registry.

“The workers here seem to be doing their best under the conditions they are working in.

“We have been told the building is not yet complete and we call on responsible government departments to respond swiftly because this puts the lives of people in danger,” he said.