Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ In a powerful demonstration of frustration and unity, a group of Zimbabwean expatriates living in South Africa, alongside supportive South African citizens, gathered outside the Zimbabwean embassy in Hatfield, Pretoria. Their message was clear: the recent hike in passport fees is not only unjust but also places an unbearable burden on Zimbabweans living abroad.
The protest was ignited by the Zimbabwean embassy’s decision to raise the passport application fee to an exorbitant US$250, a significant increase from the $150 charged within Zimbabwe. For many Zimbabweans in South Africa, this hike is beyond reach, especially for those struggling to make ends meet. The protesters argued that such a steep fee is out of line with the economic realities faced by Zimbabwean citizens abroad and is inconsistent with passport costs in other African countries.
One protester, a 30-year-old Zimbabwean who has lived in South Africa for over a decade, shared his story of desperation. After losing his passport in a robbery last year, he found himself unable to replace it due to the high cost. “I’m not working, so I don’t have R5,000 for a passport,” he lamented. “Without a permit, you can’t work here. Going back home is also expensive.”
The high passport fee leaves many like him in a precarious situation, unable to secure legal employment or move freely without fear of police harassment. Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, another protester who crossed into South Africa without a passport in 2018, expressed similar concerns. At 25, she continues to evade the police, living in constant fear of arrest due to her lack of documentation.
The protest wasn’t just about passport fees; it was also a call for broader change. Mandi Chiwashira, a leader among the Zimbabwean expatriates, demanded the resignation of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing his administration of failing its people. “Our situation in Zimbabwe is dire,” Chiwashira declared. “We’re just surviving on God’s mercy here in South Africa.”
The sentiment was echoed by South African allies like Kagiso Nkuna of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who criticized the fee hike as an attack on the dignity of Zimbabwean citizens. Nkuna argued that this move would only push more Zimbabweans into illegal status in South Africa, exacerbating their plight.
