HARARE, May 30 (AGCNewsNet) – Zimbabwe will begin issuing digital national identity cards in July in a bid to modernise its civil registration system and improve security, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Thursday.

The new electronic IDs will contain embedded biometric data and advanced security features, replacing the current metal and plastic cards that have been in use for decades.

“This digital ID will help curb identity theft, increase access to government services, and align Zimbabwe with global standards,” said Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe during a press briefing in Harare.

He noted that the move was part of broader efforts under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to digitise public services and enhance efficiency in the civil registry.

The rollout will begin in Harare and Bulawayo, with a nationwide phase to follow, Kazembe said. Citizens with current IDs will be able to upgrade at no cost during the initial implementation phase.

Registrar-General Henry Machiri said preparations for the launch were at an advanced stage. “We are ready to roll out the IDs by July 1, and training of personnel has already started,” he said.

Some human rights groups welcomed the announcement but urged transparency and inclusivity in the implementation.

"Modernising the ID system is a positive step, but the government must ensure that rural communities and marginalised groups are not left behind,” said Vivid Gwede, a political analyst and media rights advocate.

Zimbabwe has long faced challenges in its civil registry system, with many citizens in rural areas struggling to access identity documents due to bureaucracy, poor infrastructure, and travel costs.

The new IDs will store fingerprints and other biometric information, which authorities say will improve national security and make electoral and social services more efficient.

Critics, however, raised concerns over data protection and the potential for government surveillance.

“We need a comprehensive data protection law to accompany this rollout to safeguard citizens’ privacy,” said lawyer and digital rights advocate Beatrice Mtetwa.

Minister Kazembe responded by assuring the public that all data would be protected under existing statutes and that additional legal frameworks were under consideration.

The launch of digital IDs comes as Zimbabwe continues its push to modernise state institutions and attract foreign investment. Officials say the new system is supported by technical partnerships with regional and international ICT firms, though no specific companies were named.

The government is also expected to introduce a digital passport system by the end of the year as part of its e-governance strategy.

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