The Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa has rolled out a week-long special consular outreach programme aimed at processing passports, birth certificates, and other vital civil documents for Zimbabwean nationals residing in the neighbouring country. The initiative, which runs from 26 to 31 August 2025, begins in Mpumalanga Province, with mobile teams stationed in the cities of eMalahleni and Mbombela.
The programme seeks to address the growing demand for official documentation among Zimbabweans in South Africa, many of whom face challenges travelling back home to apply for or renew their documents. The intervention is also expected to ease pressure on the embassy and consulates in Pretoria and Johannesburg, where long queues and extended waiting times have been a persistent challenge.In a public notice announcing the initiative, Zimbabwe’s Consul-General to Johannesburg, Mr. Eria Phiri, said the outreach was in direct response to the increasing number of requests for civil documents from Zimbabwean nationals across South Africa.
“The consulate wishes to inform Zimbabwean nationals resident in Mpumalanga Province of a mobile consular visit to eMalahleni and Mbombela from August 26 to August 31,” Mr. Phiri said. “This programme is designed to bring services closer to our citizens and to ensure that they can access the documents they need without the burden of travelling long distances or taking extended time off work.”
The first leg of the outreach will run from 26 to 28 August at Gateway Church, Elizabeth Avenue, in eMalahleni’s central business district. The second leg will take place from 30 to 31 August at Oewersig Community Hall in the Vintonia area of Mbombela.
Zimbabwe Embassy Launches Special Consular Outreach for Nationals in South Africa
According to the consulate, services will be offered daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with officers on hand to process passport applications and renewals, issue birth certificates, and provide other civil registration services. Nationals have been urged to arrive early, bring the necessary supporting documents, and ensure that application forms are completed correctly to avoid delays.
Obtaining travel and civil documents has been a major challenge for Zimbabweans living abroad, particularly in South Africa, which hosts one of the largest Zimbabwean diaspora communities. Many nationals rely on these documents for work permits, school enrolments, banking, and travel. Without them, individuals can face difficulties in accessing basic services and legal protections.
Over the years, the embassy has been under pressure to find ways of decentralising services to meet this demand. The introduction of mobile consular visits is seen as a practical solution, particularly for provinces such as Mpumalanga, which are far from the main consular offices.
Zimbabwean community leaders in Mpumalanga have welcomed the outreach, describing it as a long-awaited response to persistent calls for decentralised services.
“This is a big relief for our people,” said a representative from a Zimbabwean community association in eMalahleni. “Many of our members have been struggling to get passports and birth certificates because travelling to Johannesburg or Pretoria is costly and time-consuming. Bringing the services to our doorstep is a game-changer.”
Similar sentiments were echoed in Mbombela, where residents expressed hope that the initiative would become a regular feature of consular services.
The outreach aligns with the Zimbabwean government’s broader diaspora engagement and service delivery improvement strategy. Authorities have increasingly recognised the economic and social contributions of Zimbabweans living abroad, particularly through remittances, which remain one of the country’s largest sources of foreign currency.
By making it easier for nationals to access official documents, the government aims to strengthen ties with the diaspora and improve their ability to participate in the country’s economic and social development.
The consulate has put in place measures to ensure the smooth running of the programme, including crowd management, verification of documents, and adherence to standard security protocols. Applicants are advised to carry original documents and certified copies where applicable, along with proof of payment for relevant services.
Consular staff will also be available to answer queries on citizenship, immigration requirements, and other related matters. Officials have cautioned applicants to beware of unauthorised agents or individuals claiming to facilitate faster processing for a fee, stressing that all services will be conducted directly by embassy staff.
If successful, the Mpumalanga outreach could pave the way for similar mobile consular missions to other South African provinces with significant Zimbabwean populations, such as Limpopo, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
For now, the focus remains on ensuring that the eMalahleni and Mbombela sessions run smoothly, meet the expected demand, and serve as a template for future outreach efforts.
By the end of the week-long programme, hundreds of Zimbabweans are expected to have applied for passports, obtained birth certificates, or resolved outstanding documentation issues — a development that many hope will mark the start of more accessible and efficient consular services for the diaspora community in South Africa.
Source- Bulawayo24
