ZIMBABWE is sending dozens of officers from the Registrar General’s Office to South Africa to facilitate the issuance of passports to undocumented Zimbabweans who have been told they face deportation in December.
Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi and Theresa Makone -- responding to a December 31 South Africa deadline for Zimbabweans to obtain proper documents and regularise their stay -- say they are sending the teams to process passport applications.
As part of efforts to smooth the process, standard passport fees were slashed from US$140 to just $40 on Wednesday.
Minister Mohadi said Zimbabweans living in South Africa could also travel back home to make passport applications.
“Those who choose not to regularise their travel documents in time will be deported and will have no one to blame,” Minister Mohadi said.
In April 2009, South Africa granted a special dispensation to Zimbabweans – in cases allowing them to take up jobs in health care and education sectors without work permits. All removals of illegal Zimbabwean immigrants were also frozen.
But last week, South Africa said it was stopping the arrangement following talks with Zimbabwe.
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said: “We are saying they must all come out, say who they are, what they are doing and we can regularise their stay. Those (Zimbabweans) in South Africa must have their stay regularised.”