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Zimbabwe cops making a killing from fingerprints
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The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has come under fire following revelations that officers are illegally charging an additional $15 "facilitation fee" to expedite fingerprint clearance services, on top of the official $5 processing fee.
An investigation by The Midweek Watch uncovered that the $15 payment is not receipted and is being collected at police stations such as Masvingo Central, purportedly to speed up the processing of fingerprint clearance documents in Harare-from up to 14 days to just three.
A police officer at the station confirmed the practice to this reporter, who posed as someone seeking fingerprint clearance.
"The $5 is receipted while the $15 is meant to facilitate the processing of your papers in Harare. If you don't have the $15, we will give you your papers and you take them to Harare yourself for processing, which may take seven to 14 days. But if you pay the $15, you'll get them back in three days," the officer said.
The finger-pointing has prompted swift condemnation from national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, who said the practice is illegal and constitutes corruption.
"Thank you very much for raising the issue. The process is very clear. One pays $5 for standard processing which takes seven days, and $10 for emergency clearance which takes three days. All money must be receipted and audited by government auditors. Members of the public should not pay anything outside that," Nyathi told The Midweek Watch.
Nyathi warned that any officer found engaging in such practices would face disciplinary action and urged citizens not to engage in or enable corrupt transactions.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa echoed these sentiments, stating that both the bribe givers and takers would be held accountable.
"We do not encourage such practices. If any victim comes forward, we will hold both the victim and the perpetrator accountable," said Dhewa.
He also urged the public to report such activities and resist the temptation to pay bribes, warning that those caught bribing police officers will be arrested.
Former Masvingo City Mayor Advocate Collen Maboke said corruption thrives on mutual complicity and called on citizens to stand firm against paying for services that are supposed to be free or minimally charged by law.
"It is evident that there exists complicity between the victim and the perpetrator. The public must resist the urge to pay public entities for services they inherently deserve," said Maboke. "Plan ahead and follow the proper procedures to avoid bribery."
A source who tipped off The Midweek Watch revealed that on one particular day, more than 30 applicants paid the $15 fee, meaning the officers involved could have pocketed over $300 in just a few hours.
Fingerprint clearance is a requirement for formal employment in both the private and public sectors in Zimbabwe, making the process an essential service for thousands of job seekers.
The illegal "fast-tracking" scheme is reportedly not limited to Masvingo, with similar reports coming from Harare, Bulawayo, and other urban centers.
Authorities have urged citizens to report corrupt officers and avoid making unofficial payments. Meanwhile, calls are growing for the ZRP and government to tighten internal controls and enhance transparency in public service delivery.
An investigation by The Midweek Watch uncovered that the $15 payment is not receipted and is being collected at police stations such as Masvingo Central, purportedly to speed up the processing of fingerprint clearance documents in Harare-from up to 14 days to just three.
A police officer at the station confirmed the practice to this reporter, who posed as someone seeking fingerprint clearance.
"The $5 is receipted while the $15 is meant to facilitate the processing of your papers in Harare. If you don't have the $15, we will give you your papers and you take them to Harare yourself for processing, which may take seven to 14 days. But if you pay the $15, you'll get them back in three days," the officer said.
The finger-pointing has prompted swift condemnation from national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, who said the practice is illegal and constitutes corruption.
"Thank you very much for raising the issue. The process is very clear. One pays $5 for standard processing which takes seven days, and $10 for emergency clearance which takes three days. All money must be receipted and audited by government auditors. Members of the public should not pay anything outside that," Nyathi told The Midweek Watch.
Nyathi warned that any officer found engaging in such practices would face disciplinary action and urged citizens not to engage in or enable corrupt transactions.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa echoed these sentiments, stating that both the bribe givers and takers would be held accountable.
"We do not encourage such practices. If any victim comes forward, we will hold both the victim and the perpetrator accountable," said Dhewa.
He also urged the public to report such activities and resist the temptation to pay bribes, warning that those caught bribing police officers will be arrested.
Former Masvingo City Mayor Advocate Collen Maboke said corruption thrives on mutual complicity and called on citizens to stand firm against paying for services that are supposed to be free or minimally charged by law.
"It is evident that there exists complicity between the victim and the perpetrator. The public must resist the urge to pay public entities for services they inherently deserve," said Maboke. "Plan ahead and follow the proper procedures to avoid bribery."
A source who tipped off The Midweek Watch revealed that on one particular day, more than 30 applicants paid the $15 fee, meaning the officers involved could have pocketed over $300 in just a few hours.
Fingerprint clearance is a requirement for formal employment in both the private and public sectors in Zimbabwe, making the process an essential service for thousands of job seekers.
The illegal "fast-tracking" scheme is reportedly not limited to Masvingo, with similar reports coming from Harare, Bulawayo, and other urban centers.
Authorities have urged citizens to report corrupt officers and avoid making unofficial payments. Meanwhile, calls are growing for the ZRP and government to tighten internal controls and enhance transparency in public service delivery.
Source - Midweek
