adminLIFE in the diaspora can be a nightmare for foreigners when their papers are not in order.
Possession of proper papers enables foreigners, and their families, to access essential services such as education and health care.
Some of the migrant workers have been playing “cat and mouse” with authorities as they don’t possess proper papers.
Others have been risking their stay in foreign lands by fraudulently acquiring resident and work permits.
This practice is as a result of desperation and the love for taking short cuts.
Desperation is dangerous since it can drive people to extremes in their quest to stay in foreign lands.
Such cases are common in South Africa, where a sizable number of Zimbabweans stay.
Our Ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, has been urging Zimbabweans who are resident in that country to regularise their stay to avoid trouble with authorities.
Ambassador Hamadziripi has been urging Zimbabweans to take part in some of the programmes the Embassy has come up with.
One of the programmes he successfully launched was the just-ended Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) mapping exercise and consular outreach exercise, which ran from March 19 – March 31.
Ambassador Hamadziripi revealed that they covered all the nine provinces as Zimbabweans successfully applied for birth certificates, passports and related consular services, during the exercise.
This exercise, according to Ambassador Hamadziripi, was meant to assist Zimbabweans in South Africa to be able to regularise their stay.
Without these documents, it is hard for Zimbabweans who are based there to live decent lives in which they will keep themselves far away from trouble with the authorities.
Zimbabweans in foreign lands should also take part in the Government’s initiatives, which are meant to regularise their stay.
The just-ended exercise, expected to collate and analyse data, will go a long way in assisting the two Governments to deal with issues related to those Zimbabweans who are resident in South Africa.
Being a foreigner does not strip people of their rights to access essential services like healthcare and education.
Fear of the unknown has led to some foreigners being subjected to inhuman treatment by some of their employers who take advantage of their situations.
Reports that an Inter-Ministerial Committee has been set to collate data for the successful implementation of the programme are encouraging and should provide the Zimbabweans to fully embrace such important programmes as and when they come around.
Failure to get proper documentation should not be accepted, especially when there are clear policies and programmes aimed at easing their challenges.
By regularising their stay, they can work without fear of being deported or falling victim to unfair labour practices, where they would be exposed to ill-treatment by employers ready to take advantage of their situation.
This isn’t just about Zimbabweans who are working in the Diaspora.
This also applies to other foreigners, and they are many of them, who are resident in this country and work here.
Online Reporter