OVER 1 000 people have signed a petition asking the government of Zimbabwe to review a decision to hike the cost of a Zimbabwean passport by nearly 50 percent.
According to GroundUp, the Zimbabwean consulate in Johannesburg said that starting July 29, all passport applications would be handled as express applications and would cost citizens US$250 (around R4 540) instead of US$170 (around R3 100).
“The ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has directed that all e-passports applications that are processed at the Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, shall be handled as express/emergency applications in terms of Statutory Instrument 1 of 2024.” the consulate said.
“In effect, this means passport application fees for the express/ emergency passport shall be US$250 charged at the prevailing US$/ZAR exchange rate with effect from Monday 29 July 2024.”
In response to this price hike, the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa launched a petition on July 30, and it has since gathered over 1 100 signatures. The petition declared that the new fee was far beyond what many Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa could afford, considering the average earnings of the community.
“It’s an overwhelming burden that prevents us from securing our legal documents which are part and parcel of our fundamental human rights. We believe everyone, regardless of their economic conditions, has a right to their own nationality.” the petition stated.
The new Zimbabwean consulate, which only recently opened its doors, is now the place for Zimbabweans living in South Africa to apply for passports, including e-passports, and birth certificates. Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Frederick Makamure Shava said that the new consulate would enable Zimbabweans residing in South Africa to acquire proper documentation.
“On June 18, 2024, in this building, we commenced the rollout of the e-passport delivery platform to our nationals abroad and I am happy that we started in South Africa. I am pleased to inform you that the system trial run that we conducted on e-passports was a tremendous success.” Shava said.
“The e-passport processing centre housed in this building enables Zimbabwean nationals here in South Africa to apply for, and obtain this critical document much more conveniently, and quickly – without the middle man.
“The trial run ends today with the official launch of the project. The centre has successfully processed a total of 2,146 e-passport applications.” — The South African