Consul-General Eria Phiri explained in a public notice that the first phase involved training consulate staff. This concluded on 15 June, and will now be followed by a system test run from June 18 to 21.
South Africa is home to over one million Zimbabwean nationals. This is according to the country’s census data and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The IOM also notes that many have entered South Africa without proper documentation. Zimbabweans have left their home country en masse to escape a political crisis, harsh economic conditions and chronic underdevelopment.
The war over work permits
In an ongoing legal battle around the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption permits (ZEPs), Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi announced a two-year extension to ZEPs in December.
This will allow Zimbabwe nationals to work, study, and live in South Africa until 29 November 2025. However it is under the condition that they cannot thereafter apply for permanent residency.
In February this year, The Supreme Court of Appeal went on to dismiss a bid by Motsoaledi. The bid was to appeal a ruling that the termination of the ZEP programme was unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.
In an effort to assist its nationals with legal documentation, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage of Zimbabwe, Ambassador Raphael Faranisi announced in May that registration officers would travel to the Zim embassy in South Africa to train consular staff on how to process e-passports.
Consul-General Phiri said the trial run will involve a limited number of randomly chosen clients.
“This trial run period will be open to a limited number of clients, randomly chosen from the existing pool of clients visiting the consulate in Johannesburg for passport application under the outgoing system,” Phiri said.
“The process will help the consulate to gauge the level of the system’s responsiveness and effectiveness in a real world environment before the full roll out [phase two] to the public.”
Requirements for e-passports
According to the Chronicle, the cost of the e-passport is set at US$150 (converted to ZAR based on the previous week’s average exchange rate) and an additional fee of US$20 will apply for a QR code.
Requirements for the Zimbabwe e-passport include:
Original birth certificate
Original identification documents (ID) (metal or plastic or paper IDs are acceptable)
Passport if it is valid, and not required if it expired
Original marriage certificates will be required for married women
“The mode of payment shall be communicated to all participants on selection,” Phiri added.
“It is also important for people to note that the consulate in Cape Town or in Johannesburg or the Embassy in Pretoria does not have agents who act on their behalf.”