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SA-based Zimbabweans welcome border reopening
28 Sep 2020 at 17:19hrs | Views
ZIMBABWEANS in South Africa have welcomed the imminent reopening of the border by their host country.
South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced foreigners can travel into and out of his country for business, leisure and other travel with effect from October 1, 2020.
The news has delighted Zimbabweans resident in southern Africa's biggest economy who are estimated to number between 1,5 million and 3 million.
"We urge those who have expiring or expired passports to use this time to courier their forms to the registry offices back in Zimbabwe," said.
Bongani Mazwi Mkhwananzi, spokesperson of Zimbabwe Community in South Africa.
He added that his organisation is in discussion with the Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa to facilitate the processing of passports and births certificates applications.
"Many people are struggling to book appointments and repeatedly find the system fully booked. The consulate has confirmed that the system works, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, they can only take a maximum of 75 clients per day at this point, thus due to demand, the booking limits get reached quickly," he said.
Mkhwananzi further said they were also engaging South African Home Affairs not to deport Zimbabweans without proper papers.
"We are engaging the department of Home Affairs to ensure and uphold the announcement that was made by the Home Affairs minister - not to penalise those whose visas expired during the lockdown. Border officials should also not penalise them," he said.
South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced foreigners can travel into and out of his country for business, leisure and other travel with effect from October 1, 2020.
The news has delighted Zimbabweans resident in southern Africa's biggest economy who are estimated to number between 1,5 million and 3 million.
"We urge those who have expiring or expired passports to use this time to courier their forms to the registry offices back in Zimbabwe," said.
Bongani Mazwi Mkhwananzi, spokesperson of Zimbabwe Community in South Africa.
He added that his organisation is in discussion with the Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa to facilitate the processing of passports and births certificates applications.
"Many people are struggling to book appointments and repeatedly find the system fully booked. The consulate has confirmed that the system works, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, they can only take a maximum of 75 clients per day at this point, thus due to demand, the booking limits get reached quickly," he said.
Mkhwananzi further said they were also engaging South African Home Affairs not to deport Zimbabweans without proper papers.
"We are engaging the department of Home Affairs to ensure and uphold the announcement that was made by the Home Affairs minister - not to penalise those whose visas expired during the lockdown. Border officials should also not penalise them," he said.
Source - dailynews
