Filabusi registry office nears completion

By Jonah B Moyo

After more than two decades of delays, the long-awaited Filabusi Registry Office is now on track for completion in March, a development expected to transform access to essential documentation for residents of Insiza District.

Government has released ZWG$20 million to accelerate construction of the project, which had stalled several times since it began in 2004. Once completed, the office will allow community members to obtain passports and other travel documents locally. The service has long required costly and time-consuming travel to Bulawayo or Gwanda.

For years, registry staff in Filabusi have operated from limited office space, offering only birth and death certificates and national identity cards.

The new facility is expected to expand services significantly, easing pressure on larger urban offices while reducing travel burdens for rural residents.

The building is currently 65 percent complete. Construction initially began in 2004 but halted in 2006 due to financial constraints. It briefly resumed in 2018 before stalling again in 2019. Works restarted in January this year, with authorities confident of meeting the March deadline.

Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Albert Nguluvhe, described the project as one of the province’s key legacy developments ahead of this year’s Independence Celebrations.

“I recently visited the project site and I am pleased with the progress. It is crucial for this structure to be completed and operational, as it will offer comprehensive registry services to the people of Insiza,” he said.

Nguluvhe added that decentralising registry services aligns with the Government’s devolution agenda, aimed at improving service delivery in rural areas.

“At the moment, residents travel long distances to access passports and other travel documents. Once this office is fully operational, those services will be available locally, and congestion at Bulawayo and Gwanda offices will be reduced,” he said.

Matabeleland South Provincial Public Works Director, Engineer Sijabuliso Ncube, confirmed that Government funding has enabled steady progress, with brickwork procurement now at 75 percent.

“The project has faced setbacks in the past, but renewed government intervention has brought it back on course. Carpentry works have commenced, and we remain confident of meeting the completion timeline,” Ncube said.

He added that 24 general hands, six skilled workers and one qualified builder are currently engaged on site, though additional skilled labour may be required to speed up progress.

Beyond improving access to documentation, the project has also created short-term employment opportunities for local workers — an added benefit for the district.

For residents of Insiza, completion of the Filabusi Registry Office represents more than just a building. It signals improved access to identity, travel and administrative services — key components of economic participation and social inclusion.

If delivered on schedule, the facility could mark a turning point in decentralised service provision in Matabeleland South, demonstrating how sustained commitment can revive stalled infrastructure projects and restore public confidence.

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