ZEP mapping exercise ends

Tanaka Mahanya

Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, said the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) mapping exercise and consular outreach programme, which ran from March 13 to March 31, was a success.

He said the embassy’ teams covered all South Africa’s nine provinces, and the response was overwhelming at some venues.

Zimbabweans applied for birth certificates, passports and related consular services during the outreach programme.

“Our teams were able to deliver the intended services. What is evident is that we need to undertake these consular outreach programmes on a more regular basis so that our nationals can obtain essential civic documents which, in turn, enables them to have the necessary documents to regularise their stay in South Africa,” said Hamadziripi.

He said having regular migrant status enables them and their families to access services and facilities they need for a dignified stay in South Africa. 

“Our teams received very good and strong support from the South African authorities. These included Premiers of provinces and the South African Police Services.

“In each province, our teams were granted meetings with the Premier or their representatives. The South African officials reiterated their support for the mapping and consular exercise and for the subsequent activities in the return of our nationals to their country of birth.”

He said in a recent engagement with South African government officials, they agreed to enhance their mechanisms for cooperation and coordination on issues related to the anticipated return to Zimbabwe by some ZEP holders.

“The team members involved in this exercise are expected to collate and analyse the data that they collected and prepare a report for the Inter-Ministerial Committee tasked with coordinating and implementing this return programme.

“It is our expectation that the report will inform the government on the specific assistance to be delivered and the resources required for the effective delivery of that assistance.

“The report will also inform on any other measures that may need to be put in place to facilitate the return and settling in of the returnees,” he said.