GOVERNMENT is working on regulations to allow locals with
foreign currency the option to pay for passports in forex in a bid to speed up
the process and clear the huge backlog.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe
said there is a passport backlog of between 350 000 and 400 000 passports.
Last year, Government authorised the charging of US$318 for
passport applicants in the Diaspora and said the applications will be
prioritised.
Speaking after a familiarisation tour of the registry and
immigration offices in Gweru yesterday, Minister Kazembe said his ministry had
been approached by locals willing to pay for passports in foreign currency to
access the much needed travel document.
He said those with no access to forex will continue paying
in local currency. The Minister said since Government had outlawed the use of
foreign currency, it will take a Statutory Instrument to allow those with free
funds to pay for their passports in forex.
“Government is
working out strategies to clear the passport backlog and increase daily
production because we remain committed to ensuring that every citizen who needs
a passport gets one without hurdles. So soon if approved by the responsible
authority, we want a new Statutory Instrument that allows locals with foreign
currency to pay for the production of the document. At the moment we all know
that it is illegal for locals to pay for the production of the passport using
any foreign currency. That is one way to speed up the production of the
document because the material we use in the production of the passport is
imported and needs foreign currency,” he said.
Minister Kazembe said passports being printed now were
those applied for in October 2018.
He said there is a huge backlog which needs to be cleared
as a matter of urgency so that people are granted their Constitutional right to
access the travelling document.
“Clearing the passport backlog is Government’s number one
priority as we speak and that is why we have embarked on this tour of provinces
so that we get the feel of what is happening on the ground while listening to
challenges, advice and contributions from the people which we will take back
and work on lasting solutions to this passport backlog problem,” said Minister
Kazembe.
He said locals who cannot afford to pay in foreign currency
will not be forced to do so.
“As you know it is illegal to transact in foreign currency
meaning if we have this new Statutory Instrument, locals who can’t raise foreign
currency will not be forced to do so. This will be only for those who can
afford and need their passports quickly,” he said.
Turning to corruption at the immigration and passport
offices, Minister Kazembe said members of the public should assist Government
in fighting the scourge by reporting corrupt officials.
“Without members of the public alerting us about suspected
corruption, we won’t get to the bottom of it. If you are asked to pay a bribe,
you need to report that official as soon as possible,” he said.
Mrs Respect Gono, the chief immigration officer told the
minister that they had been forced to centralise some services in Harare to
curb rampant corruption in her department.
“We were forced to take some immigration services to Harare
because of corruption in the regional offices. But we have managed to clean out
the rotten apples and we are in the process of decentralising immigration
services,” she said.
Minister Kazembe was accompanied by his deputy Mike Madiro,
Registrar-General Mr Clement Masango and the Minister of State for Midlands
Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima. Herald
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