NAN-F-22
Passport
Johannesburg, Sept. 18, 2017 (Reuters/NAN) A sudden decision forcing all Congolese nationals to use biometric passports to travel from October has provoked backlash from lawmakers already vexed by revelations about the documents’ high cost, media reports said on Monday.
Even though Democratic Republic of Congo sits near the bottom of the UN Human Development Index, the passports it introduced in 2015 are among the world’s most expensive.
According to Reuters, the 60 dollars of Congolese 185 dollars purchase price in April goes to a company registered in United Arab Emirates, whose owner is believed to be a relative of Congo President Joseph Kabila.
In spite of subsequent outcry, Vice Foreign Minister Aggee Toto said at the weekend that citizens would no longer be able to use non-biometric passports from Oct. 16, some of which were not due to expire until 2020.
Zacharie Bababaswe, a deputy from Kabila’s majority coalition wrote in a letter to Toto that “not only is this decision inconvenient, it is unacceptable in the current politico-social context.”
Opposition lawmaker Juvenal Munubo also submitted a formal demand for Toto to give parliament an explanation.
He noted that “aside from the withdrawal of this unpopular decision, no remedy will be able to reduce tension.”
Meanwhile, Congolese citizens have been expressing displeasure on social media, posting under a hash tag “don’t touch my passport”.
Congolese media reports by activist groups about the wealth Kabila has accrued over his 16 years in power have also stoked resentment, while his supporters say he and his family have broken no laws. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu