Zimbabweans living in South Africa have expressed strong dismay over the passport fees for diasporans announced by the government, and have called for the fees to be lowered.
In a public notice issued on Friday, July 26th, Zimbabwe’s Consul General Eria Phiri announced the new passport application fees for Zimbabweans in South Africa. He said:
<blockquote>
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has directed that, all e- passport 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.
In effect, this means passport application fees for the express/ emergency passport shall be USD250.00 charged at the prevailing USD/ZAR exchange rate with effect from Monday 29 July 2024.
</blockquote>
An ordinary passport that takes seven days to process costs US$150 in Zimbabwe, with an additional US$20 “application fee.”
Zimbabweans based in South Africa will pay the equivalent of US$250 plus the equivalent of US$20 “application fee.”
Debating the issue on “This Morning on Asakhe,” a <a href="https://cite.org.zw/outcry-over-high-e-passport-costs-from-zimbabweans-in-sa/">CITE</a> daily current affairs programme on X, participants said the fee was steep and appealed to the government to reduce it.
A participant, Ndlovu said:
<blockquote>
This fee is exorbitant. I once applied for a passport while I was here and sent the forms back home. There are additional costs like R80 for pictures and R300 for forms, which makes the total amount very high… If only they could reduce it to at least US$170, it would be better.
The government should treat us better; we are struggling here. We appeal for a reduction in this fee.
</blockquote>
Another participant, James, said:
<blockquote>
We are very worried about this price. It’s too much. As someone who travels frequently, raising US$250 is going to be very difficult. In Rands, that amount is a lot.
I don’t know how they justify this amount. The government must help its citizens live better lives. People are not earning enough to afford this.
</blockquote>
Alfred Khumalo said:
<blockquote>
For someone to travel from Johannesburg to Harare to apply for a passport and back, it costs about R2,000 in total. This feels like manipulation.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s passport fees are the most expensive in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. An adult passport costs R600 (approximately $33) in South Africa, P260 ($19) in Botswana, and R400 ($23) in Namibia.
In comparison, the Zimbabwean government has set the passport fee for its citizens at $270, which is significantly higher than the fees charged by its regional counterparts.
Zimbabwe’s passport production is being carried out in partnership with Garsu Pasaulis, a Lithuania-registered company owned by Semlex of Belgium.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabweans in South Africa are upset about high passport fees. The government increased fees to USD250 for an express passport. People say it's too expensive. They want the government to lower the price to USD170. Other countries in the region have cheaper passport fees. People are struggling to pay for passports. They want the government to make it easier for them to travel. Zimbabwe's passport production is done with a company from Belgium.

Zimbabweans In South Africa Call On Government To Reduce Passport Fees

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Frederick Makamure Shava has urged Zimbabwean citizens based in different parts of South Africa to acquire official documents to regularise their stay in the neighbouring country.
Shava was speaking at the official opening of the new consulate building of Zimbabwe in Johannesburg, situated in Bruma.
The new consulate will be issuing passports, including e-passports, and birth certificates to Zimbabweans residing in South Africa. Said Shava (via <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/zimbabwe-tells-citizens-acquire-passports-regularise-your-stay-and-respect-the-laws-of-south-africa-e9f2a64c-30e8-4124-bb03-b08b2264ef95">IOL</a>):
<blockquote>
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.
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 middleman.
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.
Fellow Zimbabweans in South Africa, I urge you to access these services and ensure that you have the required documentation to reside and work in this country.
By respecting and abiding by the laws of this country, you will be contributing immensely to the good name and image of Zimbabwe, here and beyond, particularly, given the ties between Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa.
</blockquote>
The newly launched chancery building was handed over to Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi.
The centre is managed by Zimbabwe’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Eria Phiri.
Hamadziripi said Zimbabwe’s Consulate in Cape Town is being renovated, and would also be producing e-passports in the future. He said:
<blockquote>
I therefore invite Zimbabweans in South Africa to come to the consulate (in Joburg) and apply for birth certificates and passports, and thus ensure that you have the minimum requirements to regularise your stay in this country.
</blockquote>
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, in a message delivered by Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, Deputy Director General responsible for Africa, said:
<blockquote>
We welcome the launch of the e-passport processing centre in our country, as one of the five centres around the world.
We believe that the launch of this centre will enhance the movement of people and goods, as well as services between our neighbouring countries.
We meet at the seminal moment in South African history when we are celebrating 30 years since the dawn of our democracy in 1994.
I am equally pleased that this year we are also celebrating 30 years since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between our two countries.
Our frequent and consistent interactions bode well with the resolve to continue nurturing our existing relations.
To this effect, the opening of this chancery is as important to us as much as it is to the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you on the opening of this beautiful property and the launch of the e-passport.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabweans living in South Africa are encouraged to get passports and other official documents to stay legally. A new consulate in Johannesburg is now issuing e-passports and birth certificates. This makes it easier for Zimbabweans to get important documents without any middleman. The South African government supports this initiative because it will improve relationships between the two countries. The new consulate building will help many people to regularise their stay in South Africa. It's important to follow the laws of the country you're in.

Acquire Passports And Regularise Your Stay, Zimbabwe Tells Citizens Based In South Africa

The Zimbabwean government on Thursday commissioned a newly refurbished building in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it has started processing e-passports for its citizens residing in that country.
The official opening ceremony was attended by several high-level Zimbabwean officials, including Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ambassador Frederick Shava, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, and Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe. Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, was also present.
South Africa was represented at the event by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Minister Shava stated that the Zimbabwean government is committed to improving and modernizing the country’s public infrastructure, including its diplomatic and consular properties abroad. He said:
<blockquote>
This comprehensive orientation extends beyond the geographical bounds of Zimbabwe as encapsulated in our country’s foreign policy thrust of ‘reaffirmation, engagement and re-engagement’.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, under my stewardship, is thus mandated by His Excellency the President to place at the centre of its priorities, the pursuit of friendship with all nations, economic diplomacy and the welfare of the Zimbabwean diaspora community across the world.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean Consulate in Johannesburg, which houses the e-passport centre, recently announced a significant change in its payment policy for e-passport services.
In a public notice, the Consulate said with effect from Monday, 22 July 2024, it would begin accepting electronic card payments for the e-passport fee.
The fee will be charged in the Rand equivalent of US$170, calculated based on the previous week’s average USD/ZAR exchange rate. It said:
<blockquote>
Please be advised that with effect from Monday, 22 July 2024, the Consulate will start accepting electronic card payments for the e-passport fee, i.e. the Rand equivalent of USD170, calculated on the basis of the previous week’s average USD/ZAR exchange rate.
However, the administrative fee of R300.00 will still continue to be paid exclusively in cash. The above measure has been introduced for public safety and convenience.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The government of Zimbabwe has opened a new e-passport center in Johannesburg, South Africa, for its citizens living there. Many important officials attended the opening ceremony. The government aims to improve its public infrastructure, including consulates in other countries. The e-passport fee will now be paid using electronic card payments, with the amount in South African Rand equivalent to $170. This change was made for the safety and convenience of the public. This new system will start from July 22, 2024.

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