Frustration and anger are simmering amongst Zimbabweans seeking national identity documents after a shocking incident at the Registrar-General’s office in [Location of office – please specify if available in original article]. On Thursday, over 40 people patiently queuing for their IDs found themselves facing an unexpected hurdle: a US$1 fuel levy imposed by office staff to power a generator during a scheduled power cut.
Multiple sources confirmed to The Mirror that the generator, crucial for maintaining operations during load shedding, ran dry. Facing a standstill, officers within the registry office took the unprecedented step of requesting each individual in the queue to contribute US$1 towards purchasing more fuel. This left those unable to afford the impromptu fee facing significant delays.
The consequence of this unexpected charge was a frustrating wait for those who couldn’t pay. Those without the dollar were unceremoniously relegated to the back of the already lengthy queue. Monica Hanyani, one such individual, described her ordeal: “I woke up early to get a national ID. The generator was switched on and it ran out of fuel. A woman who was in Office number 1 said there was no money to buy fuel and those who desperately needed their national IDs should contribute a dollar each. The contributions were made and those of us who didn’t have the money were told to stand at the back of the line. I had to wait until 2 pm to access my ID. I don’t think it is right for Government departments to treat desperate ID seekers in this way,” she recounted.
Hanyani’s experience highlights the desperation of many Zimbabweans seeking essential identification documents. She arrived at the registry at 6:30 am, securing a position as number 30 in the queue. After being unable to contribute the dollar, she found herself bumped down to number 56, enduring a gruelling wait until 2 pm before finally receiving her ID.
The incident has sparked outrage and prompted swift action from government officials. The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, expressed his strong disapproval: “That is totally unacceptable. We do not have such a policy. The matter will be investigated,” he stated firmly.
Echoing the Minister’s condemnation, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, the Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary, reinforced the government’s position: “No one should pay any extra cent that is not accounted for by government. This is unacceptable and I will engage the provincial registrar over the matter and we are definitely launching an investigation. Thank you for bringing this to my attention,” he said, acknowledging the severity of the situation.
The imposition of this unofficial fuel levy raises serious questions about accountability and transparency within government departments. The incident underscores the challenges faced by citizens navigating essential services amidst persistent power outages and economic hardship.
