Zimpapers Logo

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge
THE government and the country’s embassy staff in South Africa have been commended for successfully assisting in the repatriation of 830 people who were displaced during xenophobia motivated attacks in the neighbouring country. Over 4,000 African immigrants were displaced in Durban following an onslaught by South African mobs and seven people were killed in the skirmishes.

With the assistance of the government, Zimbabweans were documented and evacuated from South Africa in government-hired buses to their respective homes.

The victims arrived in the country by road via Beitbridge Border Post.

Masvingo, Midlands and Manicaland provinces had the highest number of victims.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Masvingo, Cde Shuvai Mahofa said they were very grateful to President Mugabe and the government for the support they had offered to the affected citizens in their hour of need.

“We’re very humbled and appreciate the efforts made by our government in making a decision to provide food and transport to evacuate its citizens from South Africa. As provincial leaders we’ve started facilitating a re-integration process for them through the assistance of various stakeholders including traditional leaders,” she said.

“Those with life skills will be assisted in venturing into several income generating projects”.

Cde Mahofa also extended her gratitude to the embassy staff in South Africa who played a pivotal role in documenting and managing transport logistics for the victims.

Matabeleland South resident minister Cde Abednico Ncube commended officials at Beitbridge Border Post for ensuring a smooth passage for the victims during the repatriation process.

“It’s very important for people to be united in both good and bad times. We would want to urge those who were repatriated and others to consider exploring various economic empowerment opportunities in the country rather than risking their lives in other countries” he said.

Midlands’s Minister of State, Cde Jason Machaya said the government had shown the rest of the world that it cared for its citizens, whether at home or away.

“I want to thank our government and the embassy staff in South Africa for working tirelessly in providing food, shelter and facilitating the identification and documentation process. We’re very hopeful that the issue of xenophobia will be discussed at the SADC summit. Our gratitude also goes to all those people including President Mugabe who pressured South Africa to act on the attacks on immigrants” said Cde Machaya.

Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum spokesperson, Trust Ndlovu said: “We appreciate efforts made by the government of Zimbabwe and other players in South Africa in ensuring the safety of its citizens. We’re thankful for the efforts made by those people who raised the red flag with the South African embassy in Harare and the embassy staff for their continued engagement with Zuma’s government over the need to protect migrants from further attacks.”

He said it was important for the government to continue making efforts towards reducing labour migration by resuscitating the economy.

Zimbabwe’s Consul-General to South Africa, Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro commended the government for making a decision to provide transport and food for its people in South Africa.

“As the consulate, we applaud the government and President Mugabe for making a speedy intervention to assist Zimbabweans in South Africa. The cooperation received from the provincial ministers of state and other government line departments in Zimbabwe during the repatriation process is pleasing,” he said.

“Further, we would like to commend the host government especially the department of immigration who assisted with documentation and providing escort for our brothers and sisters to Zimbabwe. We’re grateful to all the non-governmental organisations and businessmen in Durban who assisted in providing shelter and food for immigrants at the transitional camps.”

He said there was calm as South Africa had come up with a raft of measures to quell the attacks.