Foreign nationals from the horn of Africa cause for concern

Kembo Mohadi, Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister, says his ministry is doing everything possible to ensure that foreigners entering the country do not use it as a transit for illegal entry into South Africa and human trafficking and that they stick to the missions that they are in the country for.

Minister Mohadi was responding to questions on the influx of foreign nationals from the horn of Africa who are believed to be economic refugees, who have been entering the country as refugees before later leaving for South Africa.

Minister Mohadi explained that the foreign nationals who are often spotted tracking down Nyamapanda-Harare highway are allowed entry into the country as refugees and should therefore be temporarily housed at Waterfalls Transit Camp before being transported to the main refugee camps such as Tongogara.

"It has come to government attention that after a while some of the refugees disappear and track down to South Africa but it is not clear whether they use designated or undesignated points," said Minister Mohadi.

Turning to the influx of other foreign nationals in Zimbabwe, Minister Mohadi said anyone is free to come and work or invest in Zimbabwe as long as they hold the necessary documents or permits.

He said it is the duty of the Zimbabwe Investment Authority to continue monitoring whether the foreign business people are still pursuing the objectives they applied for or not.