Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
THE Botswana government yesterday tried to save itself from the diplomatic embarrassment it suffered when it deported a 96-year-old man to Zimbabwe by trying to take him back from Plumtree District Hospital where he is admitted.However, the Botswana officials failed to get the man when they were told the matter was now a bilateral issue between the two countries.

Mr Alfred Khumalo, who has lived in the neighbouring country for more than 70 years and is believed to be a Zimbabwean, was deported on Heroes Day in what is suspected to be a politically motivated decision by the Botswana government following the outcome of the harmonised elections.

Botswana is the only country in the region that is siding with MDC-T in disputing the election outcome, which Zanu-PF won resoundingly.
Zimbabwean immigration officials at the Plumtree Border Post yesterday confirmed attempts by Botswana to take Mr Khumalo back.

“An effort to repatriate Mr Khumalo to Botswana was made today. Botswana officials came with their ambulance in the morning but while Mr Khumalo was in the vehicle, communication was made to say there are bilateral issues between Botswana and Zimbabwe, which must be met first.

“Resultantly, they had to take him back to Plumtree Hospital,” said assistant regional immigration officer-in-charge of western region, Mr Nqobile Ncube.

“Apparently we do not have proof that Mr Khumalo is indeed a Zimbabwean. We did not even sign any acceptance form. Right now we are working on ascertaining his status with the view of retracing his origins and relatives.

“In the absence of documentation we cannot say what will happen and we cannot take him to Botswana against his will. It is up to him to decide where he wants to reside.”

Mr Ncube said his office had communicated the matter to senior Government officials and pointed out that the immigration department was concerned about the welfare of Mr Khumalo.

He said when Mr Khumalo was deported he was taken to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) premises next to the border post, where health officials at the facility referred him to the hospital after assessing his condition.

A Chronicle news crews caught up with Mr Khumalo at the hospital soon after the Botswana officials were ordered to return him.
Narrating his ordeal, Mr Khumalo said he did not understand why he was deported to Zimbabwe when he did not know anyone in the country.

“I do not know how and why I came here. I left this country many years ago when I was a young man. I was born in 1917 in Mbembesi area and grew up in Bulawayo where I worked for a certain white man,” recalled Mr Khumalo, who is fluent in IsiNdebele.

His speech was not audible probably due to his advanced age and a recent stroke he suffered before being deported.
“I went to Botswana in the 1940s at the invitation of my uncle, Mr Dlodlo, who had a home in that country. I used to look after his cattle and never got any formal employment.

“When my uncle died I built my own home in Selebi-Phikwe. I never got married although I used to have girlfriends.
“I also do not have any children,” said Mr Khumalo showing the news crew a picture of himself and a woman he said was his girlfriend.

“I am the second born in a family of five but since I left this country I lost all contact with my relatives. Angizange ngicabange ukuthi ngizafika kulelilizwe futhi.”

He said all along he was staying alone and lived peacefully with his neighbours who assisted him as he got older.
Mr Khumalo said he was not comfortable staying in Zimbabwe as he does not have any place of residence and anyone to take care of him.

“My wish is to go back to Botswana where I spent the whole of my life.
“The problem is that I am starving and I do not have anyone to assist me.

“In the past few years I suffered a stroke and my right arm is paralysed,” said Mr Khumalo.
“I am a destitute here with no food or place of residence. Lamehlo kasabonisisi. I used to drink beer but now all the energy is gone.”

The frail looking Mr Khumalo, who all along spoke lying on the bed, struggled to sit up straight with a glow of a smile as he recalled how his family originated from the royal Khumalo lineage of the Nguni empire in South Africa.

“I am a Nguni. By origin we come from South Africa and I am a descendent of King Mzilikazi,” he said.
Hospital officials who declined to be named said Mr Khumalo was under their care while the matter was being resolved.

Botswana made headlines when it deported Mr Khumalo with one of its popular newspapers MmegiOnline reporting that the old man was being tortured for nothing by the merciless officials.

The publication said Mr Khumalo came to Botswana in 1943 and settled in Sebina Village before moving to Matenge Village and subsequently relocated to Selebi-Phikwe where he stayed at Botshabelo location.

There were also reports that Mr Khumalo tried to acquire Tswana citizenship but unfortunately could not do so as the process took long to be complete.

You Might Also Like

Comments