adminThe illegal immigrants who include 16 minors, had seemingly developed an emotional bond with the Makokoba residents who were now spending time at the church to give the foreigners morale support.
The residents would on a daily basis flock to the church saying “sizobona abantu bemzini”.
Despite the language barrier as most of the foreigners could not speak English, the locals and the “visitors” interacted freely. The Congolese, especially the four women who are part of the group, found it difficult to part with their newly found friends.
The Congolese women and the minor children and a number of women from Makokoba suburb who were part of the dozens that gathered to see them off visibly sobbed reminiscing the comradeship that had developed between them.
They emotionally embraced until the 30-seater bus that took them to Manicaland left at 12 noon.
The clothes and blankets they got from Bulawayo residents and churches were loaded onto the trailer.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) provided the bus.
In an act of solidarity, the Bulawayo City Council Health Department also sent a team to examine them before they left.
The Congolese, who are members of three families arrived in Bulawayo on Friday last week and stayed for three days at Amakhosi Cultural Centre.
They were then accommodated at the AMECZ starting Monday and residents of Makokoba took turns to visit them, cook for them and spend time with them.
Children from nearby houses were playing at the church to keep their counterparts company and by the time they left some of the Congolese children were able to speak a few isiNdebele words.
Even some of the elders could now speak a few English and isiNdebele words.
Mr Titus Bihojo, who spoke on behalf of the group said although they were happy to be in Zimbabwe, it was hard leaving the church because of the love and support they received from Makokoba residents.
“We know we are safe because Zimbabwe is a peaceful country and we are happy to be here but it is hard to leave our newly found friends. The crying is a confirmation of the strong bond that had developed between us and the people from this suburb. We would have wanted to continue living here but the Government has decided that we should move to the refugee camp,” he said.
Residents also said it was not easy to part ways with their “new friends” especially when they were beginning to bond.
“I put myself in their shoes fleeing from my country because of war. They found love here and we also thought we had new friends but here we are, they are gone. It is really painful to leave your own home because of war. We wish leaders could have a heart and not make their people suffer like this,” said Mrs Dambudzo Siwela, a steward at the AMECZ.
In an interview from Harare, the assistant regional Immigration Officer for Southern Region, Mr Francis Mabika confirmed the Congolese had been taken to a refugee camp.
He said preliminary findings of the department’s investigations had shown that the 26 were seeking asylum in Zimbabwe.
Mr Mabika said they would be taken to a refugee camp while investigations continue.
“Preliminary investigations show that that they are from the DRC and we have established that they are seeking asylum in Zimbabwe. As a department we are consulting all players involved so that we come up with an informed and proper decision,” he said.
“In Zimbabwe we have a place for refugees and we are taking them there in conjunction with the UNHCR. They are going to be accorded asylum status,” he said.
Different organisations that included the UNHCR, Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), the Immigration Department in Bulawayo, Social Welfare and churches among others visited the church to prepare for their departure.
Speaking in an interview at the church, the acting provincial Social Welfare Services Officer for Bulawayo, Mr Chriswell Nyakudya said his department appreciated the support given to the refugees by the community.
“It is mandatory for the Social Welfare Department to be involved because we are directly linked to the UNHCR. We did not know about this until we were approached by the councillor of the area and we came to visit the place,” he said.
“As a department we appreciate the commitment of the community in assisting these people with food, clothes and blankets. They have been medically examined and have been confirmed to be fit to travel and they will be arriving at Tongogara Refugees Camp today.”
The Community Health Officer for Mzilikazi, Sister Sylvia Moyo who attended to them, said aches and pains due to fatigue and stress affected them.
She said she had administered some drugs and prepared medical cards, which they would use when they get to their destination.
“We gave them pain killers and recommended that they carry and drink a lot of water on the way because the main problem is fatigue.
Meanwhile, a 43-year-old Tanzanian man, Baikari Katan Limo has been fined $60 or in default one-and-half months in prison for unlawfully assisting four Congolese to illegally enter the country through Victoria Falls border post from Zambia.
Limo, of House Number 198 Nyerere Avenue, Dar-es- Salaam, Tanzania, appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate, Miss Sharon Rosemani, where he was convicted on his own plea of guilty to contravening Section 36 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 04:02, (assist or illegally convey any person into Zimbabwe).
It was the State case as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Takunda Ndovorwi, that on 2 January and at the Victoria Falls border post, Limo unlawfully assisted Tshitenga Tshibwabwa Martine Mangala, Muleka
Mangala, Serena Mangala Ntumba and Kabunda Mangala Cybela to enter Zimbabwe from Zambia in circumstances contrary to the provisions of the Act.
Limo assisted the four to enter into the country by asking for transport from a Zambian truck driver, Mr Willie Mulenga to ferry them to Victoria Falls town.
The court heard that Limo pretended to be Martine Mangala’s husband.
Limo told Mulenga that Martine Mangala was not feeling well and needed to be ferried to Victoria Falls town. Mulenga agreed to assist and allowed them to get on his truck.
Upon entering Zimbabwe, the truck driver was asked by the Immigration officers to produce travellers’ documents for Mangala Cybela, who was seated in the passenger’s seat and he failed to do so leading to a thorough search of the whole truck by police officers.
It was then discovered that there were three other Congolese hidden in the horse leading to their arrest because they did not have permits to be in the country.
The truck driver then revealed that Limo had handed over the Congolese to him in Zambia so that he could ferry them to Victoria Falls town.
He was asked to look for Limo who was now running away from the scene towards Zambia. Mr Mulenga apprehended him and handed him over to the Zimbabwean authorities leading to his arrest.
Online Reporter