New Passports

The Zimbabwean government has announced that they will now begin issuing e-passports to replace the old ones. These e-passports will be readable electronically. The charges for these passports are as follows:

• ordinary e-passport                        –   USD$100.00
• emergency or express e-passport   –   USD$200.00

In addition to the above, a normal fee of USD$20.00 shall be charged for every passport application fee processed at any CBZ Bank Branch Countrywide.

What happens to the those that got the old passports after a long wait recently?

According to the Statutory Instrument 273 of 2021, section 22 of the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act [chapter 4:01], the following will apply :

“The current types of passports, issued before the date of operation of these regulations, will cease to be acceptable internationally by 31st December 2023, and will there fore be replaced by e-passports in terms of these regulations “

In other words, by the end of 2023 those passports will no longer be accepted.

View the Statutory Instrument below:

Some have suggested that this might help make the process of getting a passport much faster that it used to be and avoid any backlog like the current. However, you can imagine the frustration of individuals who have had to wait for months and even years to finally be able to get their passports this year. Others had to fork out a significant chunk of their hard earned money to get the passports, while some fell victim to some corrupt acts at the passport offices.

Do you think this move will make for a smoother passport obtaining process in the country?

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One factor is that there is a massive backlog on the production of passports. Some passports that were applied for as far back as 2018 are still not out. Another delaying factor is the corruption which was exposed earlier this year by Minister Kazembe Kazembe. However, those that urgently needed passports have been applying for the emergency passport. Although these ones are almost guaranteed to come out quickly, the price point is another story.

The prices have once again been reviewed and below are the new passport prices:

What are your thoughts?

Let us know in the comment section below.

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It is not too surprising that the thieves were able to penetrate the offices. The structures have long since been dilapidated. The wooden structures are said to have been previously manipulated by floods as a result of their being weakened by termites.

Three suspects appeared before the Mutare Magistrate Prisca Manhivi. They were Tonderai Emmanuel Rwanga (36), Wiseman Musindo (24) and Judah Duri (29). Two of the above are said to have been security guards that where guarding the registry when the crime took place on the 4th of June.

The suspects were facing unlawful entry charges as defined in Section 131 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

On the day of the crime, the two guards, Rwanga and Musindo are said to have assigned themselves duties. Everything was intact when they checked upon beginning their duties. However, when carrying out perimeter checks at 1am, Rwanga discovered that the door to the accounts office was open.

Investigations later carried out by the Mutare CID lead to the discovery that the guards on duty had connived with the thieves. They are said to have been paid US$200 each.

Crime has been on the rise lately and thieves have become more daring. The most recent of these crimes was reported at the country’s leading security company, Fawcett’s premises.

What are your thoughts?

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After hearing many complaints about the systems at the passport office the relevant authorities decide to take action. The Home Affairs Minister, Kazembe Kazembe woke up early one morning in April and decided to go undercover at the passport offices. He was able to see first-hand the corruption and delays experienced by citizens who seek to get passports.

This visit is said to have changed the way things are done at the passport offices. Besides the arrest of corrupt high office individuals there, the visit has led to better systems.

It is now reported that the process of applying for a passport is now smooth sailing and can last less than an hour.

In the meantime, only emergency passports are being issued out. These passports cost US$318 and will be issued out the very next day.You can now apply for yourself or a relative with no questions asked. All that is need is an ID and birth certificate. If you’re applying on behalf of a relative you’ll need to add a letter of authorisation from the relative to the requirements.

2021 PASSPORT PRICES AS ANNOUNCED BY Minister Monica Mutsvangwa IN APRIL 2021

• Ordinary passport – US$60,

• Three-day passport – US$200

• 24-hour emergency passport – US$318

• Emergency travel document – US$80

Those who applied for passports in 2018 and still haven’t gotten them can also top up and get their passport the very next day.

However, backlog still exists for ordinary passports. These are being issued out starting with the ones that were applied for in  2018.

What are your thoughts?

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The post 24hrs and you’ll now have your passport. Zimbabwe passport problems over for good? appeared first on Provoker Magazine.

One such tout, Nicholas Chogugudza, appeared before the courts and has been given a 20 months sentence. Chogugudza claimed to have been in the business of collecting bribes on behalf of passport office employees.

Harare regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje emphasised the need to continue carrying out investigations at the passport office as a result of the high levels of corrupt activities there.

Chogugudza was tried alongside Prisca Moyo, an official from the passport office, who was being prosecuted for the same charges and criminal abuse of office. Bail was denied as there is said to be a high risk of interference with witnesses.

Investigations are underway, however the police admit to facing challenges along the way.

What are your thoughts?

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To put this situation into perspective, here’s a bit of background:

The Chronicle last week stated that passports that were applied for by the end of February 2019 were ready. The lockdown period was being utilized to clear the backlog of approximately 200 000 passports.

How did such a backlog occur? Well, the problem was attributed to a lack of foreign currency to acquire the materials needed for passport production. Some stated that their passports had been applied for as far back as 2018.

So when news was circulated on social media platforms about passports being ready fro collection, people were excited and some even traveled from far to collect their document. People were disappointed. The Chronicle interviewed a women queued for her passport as she gave the following statement:

“I read Whatsapp messages that said that the passports that had been applied for up to February 2019 were out and we should come and collect. So, i was excited and came to collect my passport that i applied for in June 2019. But when I arrived here i was told the passport is not yet out so its very confusing.

So I’m really disappointed as I have wasted a lot of money coming here for nothing. I thought the information on Whatsapp was authentic. And why would someone spread false information on such issues? What do they stand to benefit?”

Some fast thinkers tried to take advantage of the situation claiming that they could help people get their passports. However, Mrs Jane Peters the provincial registrar, warned people to be careful of such swindlers as they do not have officials operating outside the offices.

An official registry who was present at the scene told the Chronicle that

“I think this is a combination of two factors, some read social media messages and were misled into believing that their passports were out. But others followed authentic information. A lot of people walked away with their passports today. But members of the public should understand that we cannot serve them all at one go.”

Some disgruntled and appalled citizens took the liberty of comparing our systems to the other countries where people never queue for passports as they do here.

What are your views on this subject?

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