Zimbabweans stampede to get passports ahead of expected fee hike
![The Harare Passport Office at Makombe Building (Picture via Facebook - Makombe Passport Office Official)](https://i0.wp.com/hararelive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Makombe-Building.webp?resize=750%2C430&ssl=1)
HARARE – Hundreds of people have besieged passport offices at Makombe Building in Harare to try and secure the travel documents ahead of hiked fees announced in the 2024 national budget, which take effect beginning next month.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Prof Mthuli Ncube increased passport fees from US$120 to US$200 with effect from January.
“After I heard that there will be a fees hike (for) passports, I decided to rush to get a passport before 1st of January and because I come from a far away, it will be difficult to imagine coming to pay US$200 for a passport especially when taking into consideration the bus fare and other costs associated with travelling, so I decided to come and pay for the passport now,” said Alice Mangena.
You May Like: Mthuli Ncube raising passport, vehicle registration fees sparks debate
Cross-border trading and migration to look for greener pastures is one of the major reasons Zimbabweans need passports.
Passport fees are to go up from US$120 to US$200 for ordinary passports and from US$200 to US$300 for emergency passports beginning next January 1. New Ziana