The focus groups established that many people in Zimbabwe face numerous challenges accessing identity documents. These challenges range from unaffordable charges, difficult attitude of the employees at the Registries, and bureaucratic hurdles. The processes of acquiring documents are, by and large, difficult for individuals trying to access identity documents for the first time, but for those who are trying to replace lost, stolen, or damaged documents, these difficulties increase when they are faced by women. Challenges in accessing identity documents As suggested above, there are a number of challenges in women trying to access documents that should be their legal right, and, more importantly, should be easy to obtain as citizens. However, as will be seen, the women reported that this is not the case Unaffordable charges The fees set for accessing identity documents were generally perceived as too high and beyond the reach of many Zimbabweans. For instance, getting a birth certificate of a child born in Zimbabwe to Zimbabwean parents is free of charge. However, the cost of getting a birth certificate for a child born outside Zimbabwe has many charges to it. First, the parents have to pay a deposit in South African Rand of ZAR110 into the Zimbabwean Consulate’s Standard Bank Account, and then pay United States $50 upon submission of the forms applying for the certificate at the Registrar General’s (RG) Offices in Zimbabwe.6 Regarding the costs of acquiring a passport, one woman had this to say: “I have an issue regarding passports. I am a widow and I need to do what I can to fend for my family. My first passport was easy and affordable to get. But it has since expired and replacing it has been hard. The costs are prohibitive and I know of a lot of poor and widowed women like me who are struggling to afford the price of getting a passport.” The Registrar-General’s office (R-G) does not seem to sympathise with individuals who lose their documents through theft and other circumstances beyond citizens’ control. Although the penalty fee for lost or stolen passports has been removed, citizens still need to pay to acquire the new passport. Surely if it is a case of theft, the passport should be replaced free of charge? Recommendations    6 The RG should address the disparity in costs of acquiring a birth certificate for children born outside Zimbabwe as compared to those born in Zimbabwe. Since there is no difference in material used or service offered there is no justification for the disparity in charges as the child remains a Zimbabwean, entitled to the birth certificate as of right? The RG should also create subsidies for acquiring identity documents for vulnerable members of society including but not limited to the following: widows, orphans and street children. Replacement of stolen passports where police reports are made available must be for free Birth Certificate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.zimbabweconsulate.co.za/main/birth.html.