ZIMBABWEANS are paying the highest passport fees in Southern Africa by a considerable margin, according to newly compiled figures.
At US$170, the cost of a Zimbabwean passport is more than four times higher than in South Africa and over thirty times the price in Angola.
Across the region, the differences are stark.
For instance, in Angola, a passport costs just US$5, while in Eswatini and Zambia, the fees are US$10 and US$13 respectively. Other neighbours, such as Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique, also charge significantly less, with fees ranging from US$20 to US$43.
For many Zimbabweans, the cost has become an overwhelming burden, with wages eroded by inflation and the cost of living already high.
Yet, a passport is not a luxury. For thousands, it is essential for study, work opportunities abroad, or simply the ability to cross borders for trade and family reasons.
Observers argue that the price gap underlines how Zimbabwe stands as a regional outlier. The fee places unnecessary strain on citizens, creating barriers to mobility at a time when many are seeking better prospects elsewhere. For most, the cost of a passport symbolises yet another hurdle in daily survival.
