Lawyers challenge new passport fees

By Vusumuzi Sifile

ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights last week officially complained to the Registrar-General, Tobaiwa Mudede, over the recent increase in foreign currency-denominated passport fees.This they argued was an unreasonable violation of citizens’ rights and freedoms.
Last month, the RG’s office released a schedule containing new foreign currency-denominated fees for travel documents.
Under the new charges, an adult passport costs US$670 while a child will have to pay US$607 for a passport.
To renew a passport, one has to part with US$400. The new charges are many times more than the standard fee charged in most major economies.
In a letter to Mudede on Thursday, litigation lawyer Range Nyamurundira said passports were “basic national documents to which any citizen of Zimbabwe is entitled”.
They challenged the RG to review the charges to the same levels as in neighbouring countries, failure of which would result in legal action against Mudede.
“A passport serves not only as a means of identification but for many individuals is a symbol of belonging and national pride” Nyamurundira said.
“More importantly not only is a passport a means of identification but it is also the means through which certain basic human rights can be exercised by Zimbabwean citizens.
“One such right whose enjoyment is exercised only by means of possession and use of a passport is the right to freedom of movement.”
He quoted Section 22 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which provides that: “No person shall be deprived of his freedom of movement, that is to say, the right to move freely throughout Zimbabwe, the right to reside in any part of Zimbabwe, the right to enter and to leave Zimbabwe and immunity from expulsion from Zimbabwe.”
Nyamurundira said the new fees were “not reasonably justifiable” and far beyond the reach of most Zimbabweans who have no access to foreign currency.
Giving an example of civil servants who were recently promised monthly salaries of US$50, Nyamurundira said it would take almost a year to raise enough money to acquire a passport, foregoing all other needs in one’s life.
He said cross-border traders would also be hardest hit, as the new fees “deny them the very passport that allows their livelihood by imposing exorbitant and unreasonable passport charges.” It was a severe limitation and violation of their rights and freedoms,” he said.
It could not be immediately established if Mudede received the letter, also copied to the parent Ministry of Home Affairs.