Zimbabweans have revealed that they are forced to part with at least US$200 bribe to get a passport that normally costs ZWL$52.
Sources who spoke to ZimEye.com said that authorities in the offices charge as high as US$600 to the rich who want to get their passports issued immediately at the Harare passport offices.
Since the beginning of last year, government has been failing to process passport applications with people who applied in March last year still waiting to get their passports.
Though government has been making assurances that the situation will improve following acquisition of new processing equipment, things have actually been getting worse on the ground with further delays being experienced as those paying bribes by past the long queue of outstanding passports.
Meanwhile, Registrar General Clemence Masango has called on Zimbabweans to stop paying bribes to his officials when seeking for passports and any other identity documents.
Speaking to the media after a tour by the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee at the Registrar General’s Department of Passport Production Centre in Harare on Thursday, Masango said there was no justification in Zimbabweans parting with any extra fee other than the one stipulated for passport application.
“Do not pay. There is no justification for that. Corruption is a crime. Everybody must take responsibility in resisting it, fighting it and reporting it,” said Masango an ex police officer.
“If anybody has paid more than the statutory fee and there is no receipt obviously please come and also feel free to report to the police. The law will take its course. We will not condone corruption, we will not protect corruption.
“The President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made a very strong statement which we all must take responsibility to implement and give effect to.”
Masango said the department is governed by the civil service regulations and those who fail to follow the rules and regulations would be liable to penalties.
“If anyone offends those regulations, there are also clear regulations for punishment. I have always said that it is easy to allege corruption but it is always not easy to prove it.
“But I do not find most of our people willing to cooperate which make it impossible for law enforcement agents to detect for prosecution purposes. Why are we doing that?” he said.
The Zimbabwean passport remains a much sought after document by locals who are keen to find greener pastures outside.