HARARE - Travellers needing Temporary Travelling Documents (TTDs) have to wait a little longer before the heavily indebted Registrar General’s office can design a new document that complies with the South African Immigration Department machines.
Among other burdening debts, the RGs office owes the Treasury and Fidelity Printers over US$10 million.

Newly appointed co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone said government had no resources to design a new document in the mean time.

In April Zimbabwe introduced a new TTD with enhanced features to replace the Emergency Travel Document, which was not foolproof.
The South African Immigration Department rejected the new document saying it had no sufficient security features and was not compliant with their verifying machines.

This created a storm as thousands of travellers were left stranded after the South African authorities had denied them entry.
The government was expected to come up with a new document with enhanced security features last week, which the South African officials would assess for compliance before it can be issued out to people.
Although she could not give a date when the new document would be availed, Makone said she was optimistic government would come up with measures to expedite the process.

“Lack of resources and money are still challenges to government but modalities are being worked out in the interest of the travellers. Our aim is to make the document available as soon as possible to allow Zimbabweans wishing to cross into neighbouring countries to do so without hassles,” she said.

The TTD, designed to last for six months, has been mostly preferred by travellers, as it is less expensive than the passport.
Travellers have to pay US$38 for a TTD, US$140 for a standard passport, US$250 for a two-day passport and US$315 for a passport issued within a day.

By The Zimbabwean