Mohadi applauds South Africa

Senior Reporter
Government has applauded South Africa for introducing a new three-year permit for Zimbabweans studying or working in that country, saying the development put to rest earlier fears that the latter would soon be stranded.
SA on Tuesday introduced a new three-year permit for Zimbabweans wishing to study or work in that country, ending months of speculation following reports that the country wanted to introduce tough measures for immigrants.

Early this month, Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi engaged his SA counterpart Mr Malusi Gigaba where he raised a number of issues affecting Zimbabweans in that country, including the permit issue.

In an interview yesterday, Minister Mohadi said when he visited South Africa, he raised issues about the inhuman deportation of Zimbabweans.

“We want to thank them for extending the permits,” he said.

“That is a positive move, a move in the right direction. We raised concerns over the inhuman deportation of our nationals.

“They are just rounded up and bundled up in vehicles and deported back to Zimbabwe without being given time to take their goods and belongings.”

Minister Mohadi said the South African authorities should notify the Zimbabwean embassy and give time to those set for deportation to collect their goods.

He said they also discussed the pending introducing of a one-stop border post at Beitbridge Border Post, since it is one of the busiest.

Minister Mohadi said the new arrangement at the border post will help in decongesting traffic and travellers, especially during the festive season. He said South Africa stated it would look into the issue and give it consideration.

On Tuesday, SA’s Home Affairs Minister Mr Gigaba told journalists in Pretoria that the Zimbabwe Special Dispensation Permit (ZSP) will allow permit-holders to live, work, conduct business and study in South Africa for the duration of the permit, which is valid until December 31 2017.

He said the ZSP was a temporary bridge to the near future when all Zimbabweans will re-enter the mainstream immigration process.