Cabinet this Wednesday reviewed fees for ordinary passports to USD$60 or Zimbabwe Dollar equivalent and USD$200 for three-day passports.
The government said this was one of a cocktail of measures put in place to clear the passport backlog that dates back to 2018.
Below are figures with regards to the passport issue. They were provided by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Nick Mangwana.
- The current Passport backlog is around 250 000
- Booklet Production Capacity is 8000 per day.
- But Personalisation Capacity is less than 2500 per day.
- Quality Assurance is less than 2000 per day.
- Actual Production Price per passport is US$58.55 Hence the $60 per passport charge.
Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare late on Wednesday afternoon, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said:
Cabinet agreed that measures be taken to deal effectively with the current situation which is affecting locals and Diasporans alike.
Thus, passport fees were reviewed to US$60 for an ordinary passport, US$200 for three-day passport issuance. An emergency 24-hours passport remains pegged at US$318.
The new fees will ensure appropriate cost-factored passport revenue. E-Passport fees are pegged at US$80.
In addition, Treasury will provide US$4,5 million to purchase the required equipment and consumables.
Mutsvangwa said the government was committed to addressing the passport backlog and has engaged local universities to come up with import substitution for consumables used in the production of passports.
The news about new passport fees sparked varying responses with some saying the development will not solve anything since there are thousands who paid US$318 for emergency passports but are yet to get the documents.