The government has introduced a new committee to determine who gets a passport as the shortages of passports in the country have reached alarming levels.

The new committee is said to be responsible for vetting applicants as to who should get passports following reports of massive corruption at the passport offices whereby some applicants were paying bribes around $ 200 to have their passport applications processed.

In an interview with Herald Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Mr. Melusi Matshiya said they have constructed the committee to oversee passport applicants so that people can access their passports quickly without paying bribes.

“I have instructed the RG to set up a committee to vet applicants so as to eliminate corruption because where there is scarcity corruption can creep in, but when we have a committee we can help each other and make an informed decision “, said Mr. Matshiya.

The government is trying to do away with the current passport backlog as some applicants were being asked to come back in 2020 to collect the now priceless document as less than 800 passports are being produced a day.

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