Gift Mashoko

Government has dismissed social media reports on road tolling fees and Registrar General’s passport office fees hikes.

Over the weekend, social media and some news publications were abuzz with fake news on hikes in toll gate fares and passport fees. The fake news has been misleading people.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, George Guvamatanga has refuted these reports which he said were fake news.

 “There was a technical issue which has been resolved and passports are being issued. There are further reports on the review of passport fees and tollgate fees, both are incorrect. Government has not reviewed both the passport and tollgate fees. Both fees remain unchanged.

“I am simply providing facts that at this particular moment there are no changes to passport and tollgates fees,” tweeted Guvamatanga.

Speaking to the Harare Post, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joel Biggie Matiza has also strongly refuted the reports circulating on social media.

“These reports are unfounded and l can confirm that these are just fake news, there is no such thing. We have not in any way hiked toll gate fares, the tolling fees remain the same,” he said. 

Registrar-General, Mr Clement Masango also dismissed the social media reports of price hikes.

“There have been reports on social media alleging that passport fees will be hiked. That is not true. I am concerned as the Registrar- General that some people seem to thrive on creating controversy meant to instil alarm and despondency in society.

“This kind of behaviour must be condemned in the strongest terms. To members of the public, I would want to say it is not Government practice to communicate official matters through social media. There are no plans to revise passport fees upwards as alleged by the social media,” said Masango.

Citizens have also castigated social media abuse.

Kudzai Mutisi tweeted saying, “If we listen to Cashvist like Promise Mkwananzi, we will have hypertension every day. Tollgate fees were not increased, Passports are being issued now, and passport fees were not increased. Those are the facts, the rest is nonsense from the party of protestors.”

Jones Musara also tweeted saying, “The usual culprits are peddling fake news of false increases of passports and toll gate fees as part of their toxic agenda to incite civil alarm, despondency and unrest. Vari kunyangira Crocolion yawona.”

Batsirai Mupfawa also tweeted accusing fake news purveyors bent on inciting public violence. He tweeted, “They want to spread fake news so as to incite the public.”

Fake news circulating on social media claims that fees for a normal passport was set to rise from $53 to $253. It had also claimed that fees for an urgent passport would go up from $253 to $800. Toll gate fees were said to have risen from $2 to $8 for light motor vehicles, $4 to $12 for buses and heavy vehicles were to pay $20 while Haulage trucks were expected to go up to $40.