Construction
on
the
registry
building,
which
was
launched
in
2001
with
hopes
of
decentralising
services
such
as
passport
and
birth
certificate
applications,
has
been
at
a
standstill
for
years.
In
recent
weeks,
however,
construction
activity
has
intensified,
with
workers
now
plastering
and
roofing
the
structure.
Community
leaders
say
the
project
appears
to
be
nearing
completion.
Sindiso
Sibanda,
chairperson
of
the
Bekezela
residents’
association,
said
the
unfinished
building
had
long
stood
as
a
reminder
of
stalled
development.
“We
thought
it
would
never
be
completed,”
he
said.
“But
now
we
are
seeing
progress.
They
have
plastered
and
are
now
roofing.
We
hope
that
by
the
end
of
next
month
they
will
have
finished.”
Mr
Sibanda
said
the
renewed
activity
had
eased
concerns
that
had
been
raised
about
the
viability
of
the
project,
with
many
residents
now
looking
forward
to
the
practical
benefits
the
completed
registry
office
is
expected
to
bring.
Registry
offices
provide
essential
civil
services,
including
the
processing
of
national
identity
documents,
birth
certificates
and
other
official
records.
Residents
say
having
a
fully
functional
facility
closer
to
home
would
reduce
travel
costs
and
waiting
times.
While
welcoming
the
progress,
Mr
Sibanda
urged
authorities
to
extend
similar
momentum
to
other
infrastructure
projects
in
the
area,
particularly
road
rehabilitation.
“We
wish
such
developments
to
be
finished
even
in
other
places,”
he
said,
adding
that
residents
hoped
local
roads
would
also
be
upgraded
to
an
improved
standard.
Authorities
have
not
yet
announced
an
official
completion
date
for
the
project.
For
now,
residents
say
the
visible
progress
marks
a
significant
shift
from
years
of
inactivity.