802 Zim immigrants expected from SA

refugeeThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE second group of 802 Zimbabweans who were rounded up by South African authorities for breaking that country’s immigration laws, is expected to arrive in the country this morning by train.

The group is part of 1,350 Zimbabweans who were rounded up during Operation Fiela (Clean-Up) which is being jointly implemented by the neighbouring country’s immigration authorities, the police and the army.

The first group of 440 immigrants arrived in the country last week in a convoy of eight buses.

Zimbabwe’s consul general to South Africa, Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro said the male only group left Johannesburg at around 5pm yesterday and were expected in the country today at around 9am.

The group is being escorted by 200 officials from the police and immigration.

“The train is expected to arrive at between 8.30 and 9am tomorrow and we’re very hopeful that the repatriation process will go on smoothly. These were documented together with the 440 who were transported by buses last week,” he said.

Mukonoweshuro said the remaining few women and children will be ferried by buses as they cannot use the train.

The train, he said, was introduced as a way of decongesting the swelling numbers of illegal immigrants at the Lindelani Transit Holding Centre.

He said the train will only be used in cases where there will be larger numbers of people at the centre.

Mukonoweshuro said the train will take the immigrants up to the National Railways of Zimbabwe station in Beitbridge which is adjacent to the government-run reception and support centre.

“As of now the remaining numbers don’t warrant another train. Females will always be transported by buses,” said Mukonoweshuro.

He called on Zimbabweans travelling to South Africa to ensure that they are properly documented.

Locals travelling with children, Mukonoweshuro said, must be aware of the new requirements on long birth certificates and the requisite affidavits if only one parent is travelling with a minor.

He said Zimbabweans must not be tempted to overstay or travel to South Africa without valid documents as they will be caught and deported.

The acting chairperson of the Civil Protection Unit in Beitbridge, Kiliboni Ndou said yesterday they had put systems in place to assist the deportees.

“We’ve done our homework and are ready to roll. We’ll provide them with food, accommodation, counselling and travelling warrants to their respective homes,” she said.

Ndou said they had also put together a team of 20 officers from various government departments which would assist in documenting the deportees upon arrival.

The Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre accommodates up to 1,000 adults and 40 children at any given time.

You Might Also Like

Comments