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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Zimbabweans living in South Africa under the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) and due to come home next year when this facility expires have been promised help by the Government so they can get home with their possessions and start up here.
The special permit was granted to nearly 170 000 Zimbabweans working, studying and living in South Africa but expires at the end of June next year. A fair number have or are in the process of obtaining other work permits so they can stay, but a lot will have to leave.
Already, the Zimbabwean government has made a commitment to assist all those who would want to return home at the expiry of the permits. The returning residents have also been given a special facility by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) to ship in duty free all the property fully owned before the date of return, so they can bring back all their possessions without paying anything.
But other Government departments are gearing up to help.
The acting Head of Immigration at Beitbridge, Mr Trustworthy Manatsire, said the department had fully upraised their workers on the need to ensure a seamless clearance of their fellow countrymen.
“We are ready to assist our brother and sisters should they decide to come home at the expiry of the ZEP permits,” he said. “At the same time we have full advised our officers to share adequate information with returning residents on the steps they need to follow when clearing themselves and their properties.
“In essence every border agency has been activated and they know what to do and are willing to help”.
He said Zimbabweans wishing to come home at the end of the special dispensation in South Africa were welcome and that they should contact any border agency or the embassy in South Africa for further assistance.
Mr Manatsire said the border front-line workers were ever ready to assist Zimbabweans to come home. Officers knew what to do and were ready to roll.
In addition, to enhance the Sadc’s free movement and minimising restrictions to trade barriers, South Africa has been offering a cocktail of concessions to migrants in that country including Zimbabweans in that country to regularise their stay
Online Reporter