Zimbabweans residing in South Africa are bracing for higher costs associated with passport applications following a recent decision by their government. The Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg has announced that all e-passport applications will now be processed as express or emergency cases. This change means that applicants will need to pay a fee of US$250 and the application fee.
In contrast, an ordinary passport application in Zimbabwe, which typically takes seven days to process, costs US$150 plus an additional $20 application fee. The new policy effectively eliminates the option for a regular passport application for Zimbabweans living in South Africa. This move has been attributed to directives from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Home Affairs.
Zimbabwe Consul General Eria Phiri confirmed the adjustment in a statement issued on July 26. He noted that the decision was mandated by the Ministry of Home Affairs but did not provide further details or reasons for the change.
This development comes at a time when Zimbabweans in South Africa, whose numbers are estimated to be between one and three million, are already navigating a complex landscape of immigration and residency issues. The passport fee increase is likely to add to their financial burdens, particularly as South Africa’s new Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, has launched an intensified deportation campaign.
Currently, Zimbabwe’s passport is the most expensive in the Southern African region. For comparison, an adult passport costs R600 in South Africa, P260 in Botswana, and R400 in Namibia. This disparity highlights the financial strain faced by Zimbabwean expatriates who must now contend with elevated costs for securing essential travel documents.
In other news – Harare teenagers kill man in fight over a s3x worker
Two teenagers from Harare are facing serious legal trouble after allegedly killing a 33-year-old man, Nelson Chiripanyanga, during a violent altercation over a commercial sex worker. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident, which has shocked the local community.
According to Nyathi, the altercation occurred in Southlea Park, where the two male juveniles, aged 17 and 16, reportedly engaged Chiripanyanga in a physical confrontation. The fight escalated when the juveniles used both their fists and an unknown sharp object against the victim. Read More
