Anger at huge jump in Zimbabwean passport price
Petition gathers over 1,100 signatures
The price of a passport for Zimbabweans living in South Africa has been raised by nearly 50%. Archive photo: Masixole Feni
- A petition launched to urge the Zimbabwean government to reconsider a decision to hike the price of the Zimbabwean passport in South Africa has gathered more than 1,100 signatures in a few days.
- The Zimbabwean consulate in Johannesburg said that from 29 July all passport applications would be handled as express applications and would cost 250 US dollars instead of 170.
- Organisations representing Zimbabweans in South Africa have said the government should consider low-income earners.
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling on the government of Zimbabwe to review a decision to hike the cost of a passport by nearly 50%.
On 26 July, the Zimbabwean consulate in Johannesburg announced that the price of a passport would rise from 170 US dollars (about R3,100) to 250 US dollars (about R4,540).
“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. 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,” the consulate said.
The Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, which aims to represent the interests of Zimbabweans, launched a petition on 30 July.
The petition said: “This fee is far beyond what many Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa can afford, considering the average earnings of our 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. We call upon the Zimbabwean government to reassess these fees and reduce them to a fair amount.”
The petition had gathered over 1,100 signatures as of the morning of 2 August.
The chairperson of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, Ngqabutho Mabhena said: “The Zimbabwean passport is very expensive. Government wants to use the passport as a tool to raise money.”
A Zimbabwean who lives in Cape Town and whose passport is expiring in the next two weeks said he would get his application for a new passport processed at the consulate in Cape Town but would courier the application to Zimbabwe so that he could pay the old rate of 170 US dollars. “I can not afford the new price because I have a family to feed and rent to pay,” he said.
“The Zimbabwean government is heartless,” said another Zimbabwean, an informal trader living in Gqeberha. “We are suffering in foreign countries because of their mismanagement of our country and they now milk us dry like this.”
Chris Mapingure, chairman of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, said the government of Zimbabwe should consider low-income earners in South Africa.
“The majority of them do not have formal jobs. They’re earning less than R5,000 per month. Many people won’t afford this amount and a lot of people will remain undocumented.”
Response from Zimbabwean ambassador
Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi responding to a request for comment from GroundUp explained that there are two passport prices: “The first is the ordinary passport that costs USD170 and the second is the express/emergency that is charged USD250.” But all passports applications made in South Africa are now being handled as express/emergency.
“We have taken note of the reactions by our nationals in respect of the cost of the e-passport/express and we’re engaging our government to be aware of these responses,” said Hamadziripi. “The Embassy in Pretoria and the Johannesburg and Cape Town Consulates implement government policies so when we have reactions from our citizens we make our government aware of these national concerns.”
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Letters
Dear Editor
Please can you reduce that price? Some of us are suffering here. Most Zimbabweans are not earning enough to afford that - even in two months. Now I feel like you're punishing Zimbabweans for coming to South Africa.
Dear Editor
This is why you see some Zimbabweans sacrifice to go without these kinds of documents in South Africa.
If you calculate the money for a passport and compare that with transport, you will see that transport is cheaper than a passport, so they'll just say instead of taking passport let me just go without it. I will come back boosted and take it. I's tough to be a Zimbabwean!
Long ago the price of a passport was USD$50 but by then it was already unaffordable to some, so you can see how the Zimbabwean government is a predator upon its people. All it wants is to punish the Zimbabwean people, I don't know until when.
Zimbabwean Government: Stop Oppressing Your People.
Dear Editor
The government should just let people choose whether they want ordinary passport or they want express (emergency) passport. Our Zimbabwean people are suffering is SA. They are not there just for fun - they are striving to put food on the table.
The cost of living in SA and Zim is almost the same now. The only difference is that in SA there are many means of generating income. Instead of milking us dry, Zim government should help us get legal documents to stay in SA.
I wish and pray for our country's economy to be better so that we can go back home and be free and happy with our families.
Dear Editor
I'm writing this letter on behalf of many other people from Zimbabwe. We are appealing that the passport price be reduced to match other countries'. We were already struggling to get it and survive.
Please make it possible for Zimbabwean people to fix their travelling documents easily and cheaply like other countries.
Dear Editor
Below is a letter to the ministers of Home Affairs in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs
Government of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs
Government of Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe
Dear Honourable Ministers,
Re: Unaffordable Passports and Undocumented Migration
I am writing to express my deep concern about the exorbitant cost of passports in Zimbabwe, which has led to a surge in undocumented migration. This issue affects not only Zimbabwean citizens but also has regional implications, particularly in South Africa.
The Zimbabwean government's decision to overprice passports has made it difficult for low-income earners, including teachers and civil servants, to afford. The unemployed face even greater challenges, struggling to access basic necessities, like food. This forces many to seek alternative, often risky, means of crossing borders.
I urge both governments to consider the following:
1. Zimbabwe: Reconsider passport pricing, exploring subsidies or financing options to make documentation accessible to all citizens.
2. South Africa: Engage in dialogue with Zimbabwe to address the root causes of undocumented migration and explore solutions for safe and legal migration practices.
3. Regional Cooperation: Collaborate through SADC to promote affordable documentation and address the humanitarian, economic, and social implications of undocumented migration.
I also bring to your attention the significant costs associated with deportations. In the 2019/20 financial year, South Africa spent R23,329,354.82 on deportations and R5,634,165.20 on self-deportations. These resources could be better allocated to address the root causes of migration.
I hope you will take immediate action to address this critical issue, promoting regional integration, economic development, and human rights.
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