BY STAFF REPORTER
The Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg has announced a change in passport application processing, starting that from July 29, all e-passport applications will be treated as express/emergency applications, with a fee of US$250 plus the application fee.
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However, TPF’s interim secretary-general, Prosper Ncube, says that the new directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage is unjust.
Below is the full press statement:
The Patriotic Front (TPF) is appalled by the government’s decision to extort money from Zimbabweans living in South Africa by charging them exorbitant fees for passport applications.This is a clear case of exploitation and a further burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet.
We demand that the government immediately reverses this decision and provides a fair and affordable solution for our citizens living abroad. Furthermore, we call on the government to come clean about their dealings with Garsu Pasaulis and Semlex, the companies contracted to produce our passports.Specifically, we demand that the government provides full information on the following:
– The exact amount of money that Garsu Pasaulis and Semlex are getting from every passport made
– The terms of the contract between the government and these companies
– Why the contract was awarded without a public tender
– What measures are in place to ensure that these companies are not profiteering from our citizens
The fact that our passport is the most expensive in the region is a clear indication that the government is more interested in lining the pockets of their friends than in serving the people. We will not stand by and watch as our citizens are taken advantage of. We demand transparency, accountability, and fairness.