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Department of Immigration Launches New Website

Lusaka
May 9, 2007

LUSAKA — The Ministry of Interior’s Department of Immigration today launched a new web site that will make it possible for members of the public to access immigration forms and information online. The launch, witnessed by Chief Immigration Officer Mrs. Ndiyoi Mutiti, and senior United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officials, marks the first time the public will be able to access this information online.

The creation of the web site ( www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm ) is part of a larger effort to integrate and streamline government services in Zambia, with the goal of saving taxpayers’ time and money and limiting opportunities for corruption. Members of the public can now access fee information and application instructions online in a transparent manner. In a few months, members of the public will be able to take care of most immigration issues online.

Supported by USAID through the Zambia Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Threshold Program, the web site is an important first step in efforts at improved public outreach and marks an important milestone in the Immigration Department’s overall public awareness campaign.

Under the Threshold Program, the Department of Immigration is re-engineering and automating visa and work permit application processes, with a goal of reducing the time required to obtain these permits to less than 10 days. The new processes will be in place this year with simplified forms and instructions available through the web site.

Today’s launch took place at the Department’s computer training center which was refurbished and equipped with assistance from the Zambia Threshold Project. The Threshold Project is providing computer training to Department staff to ensure that the automated processes to be introduced this year will be sustainable.

The Zambia Threshold Project is funded through a $22.7 million agreement between the Government of Zambia, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and USAID. The project is designed to prevent corruption in targeted government institutions, improve public sector delivery to the private sector, and improve border management and trade.

For more information, contact Jason Villar, Senior Advisor, Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program, USAID/Zambia, Tel: 254303/6, Fax: 254532
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