Zimbabwe: Mr Registrar-General, let the people go
Published: 16/Jul/2019
Source: Newsday (Harare)
Guest column: Paul Kaseke
For some time now, Zimbabweans have not been able to renew their passports or obtain new ones due to what the Registrar-General’s office has termed ‘an acute shortage of passport paper’.
In this edition, we explore the legal position on this matter and what the State’s obligations are in this respect.
I should start by pointing out that the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has already described the situation as a violation of human rights and has promised to investigate the matter.
Many people are wondering why the commission would link the passport saga to a violation of human rights. Surely, the issuing of passports for people to travel is not a basic right and seems more like a luxury.
No, that is not so. Our Constitution adequately deals with this in quite a lot of detail.
Read further: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/07/mr-registrar-general-let-the-people-go/