News / National
Anxiety grips Zimbabweans in SA, Botswana
24 Jul 2014 at 11:22hrs | Views
TREVOR Ndlovu, 28, has been living in neighbouring South Africa for the past seven years. The prospect of returning back home to Zimbabwe is one he struggles with and finds hard to accept. The permit he acquired four years ago under South Africa's special dispensation extended to undocumented Zimbabwean nationals expires at the end of this year.
"It's really absurd. Firstly, I have a son with a South African citizen and I am responsible for both of them financially," Ndlovu told the Financial Gazette.
"Having to re-apply for a permit in my home country and waiting for between two to three months for it to be approved would mean they will have no source of income for that period. These people affected are South African citizens and they will have no place to stay and will starve."
The South African government is not making the situation any easier and so far is playing its cards close to the chest. Pretoria is yet to communicate with Harare over its amended immigration laws that, among other things, will compel recipients of permits under the special dispensation given in 2010 to re-apply for permits in their home countries.
With nearly 250 000 Zimbabwean nationals having benefitted from the moratorium extended by the southern neighbour nearly four years ago, the prospect of a large exodus back home to apply for the permit is a looming reality. Political observers said the huge demand for permits would also see a spike in corruption as desperate locals bribe officials for the acquisition of new permits which would see them remain legally in South Africa.
Independent economist, Vince Musewe, based in Harare said it was "tactical" for the South African government to force permit applicants to return to their home country for applications.
"I don't see why they have to come back to Zimbabwe; South Africa could have set-up facilities for permit applications in Musina and other areas within the South African borders. My suspicion is that South Africa will reduce permits given to Zimbabweans, as it is highly improbable that all 250 000 people will be given permits. It really is a smart way for the South African authorities to get people out of the country," said Musewe.
Adding further to the anxiety is Malusi Gigaba, the South African Home Affairs Minister's decision to only speak out on the fate of the 250 000 beneficiaries under the special dispensation next month.
"I wish to announce that we are in the final stages of deliberations about the Zimbabwean special dispensation, which will expire in December this year. I am mindful of the anxiety among the Zimbabwean nationals in possession of this special permit issued in 2010, but I shall announce my decision in August this year," said Gigaba last week before the South African Parliament on the occasion of Budget Vote 11 at the Extended Public Committee on Home Affairs.
If Gigaba's earlier statement on the issue in recent weeks is anything to go by, in which he indicated that granting new residence permits to 250 000 Zimbabweans would "shock the South African system," there appears to be no likelihood of Pretoria bending backwards to accommodate any longer Harare's citizens. Problems continue to mount within South Africa's own borders which include a fragile economy that has been compounded by a weak rand and a wave of strikes among metal workers and recently in the platinum belt of the North West.
Ndlovu says the new regulations would tear apart his family.
"If ever I am deemed an undesirable person that would deprive my son of a father for about five years. These regulations tear families apart," he said. With unemployment in Zimbabwe estimated at nearly 80 percent of the population by independent estimates and a booming informal sector which according to the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe transacts nearly US$7 billion, Zimbabwean nationals such as Ndlovu find it increasingly difficult to fathom the thought of entering the informal market should they return back home.
"I have become accustomed to life here…besides Zimbabwe now has a highly informal economy and I am not used to the life of dealing and would not survive," concedes Ndlovu. His dilemma is not unique to him. Many other Zimbabweans in South Africa will be affected. So will Zimbabweans in Botswana. The country's western neighbour, Botswana, earlier this month announced that it was tightening the screws on refugees who had received asylum in 2008.
Philani Ndiweni, based in Gaborone, Botswana has already spent P11 000 (US$1,227) in his bid to have a new permit processed by the Botswana authorities. "I have had two permits before; the first one in 2008 and the next in 2011, the application for 2014 has been rejected," said Ndiweni.
A freelance journalist based in Botswana for the past six years, Ndiweni said officials from Botswana's Labour and Home Affairs ministry had informed him that his job was not "a scarce skill" and this was the grounds used to reject his permit application.
"The next action is to appeal and that is another application which has to be paid for. In total it will cost P1 000 (US$112) to immigration and P2 000 (US$223) to a consultant. There is, however, no guarantee for success, but I am not considering coming back home as yet," said Ndiweni.
With the Zanu-PF government failing to slam the brakes on economic collapse since it swept into power more than a year ago, it remains unlikely that those in the Diaspora will be keen to troop back home en masse despite overtures from senior government officials to entice a return of the country's skilled labour force back home to help rebuild the economy.
"It's really absurd. Firstly, I have a son with a South African citizen and I am responsible for both of them financially," Ndlovu told the Financial Gazette.
"Having to re-apply for a permit in my home country and waiting for between two to three months for it to be approved would mean they will have no source of income for that period. These people affected are South African citizens and they will have no place to stay and will starve."
The South African government is not making the situation any easier and so far is playing its cards close to the chest. Pretoria is yet to communicate with Harare over its amended immigration laws that, among other things, will compel recipients of permits under the special dispensation given in 2010 to re-apply for permits in their home countries.
With nearly 250 000 Zimbabwean nationals having benefitted from the moratorium extended by the southern neighbour nearly four years ago, the prospect of a large exodus back home to apply for the permit is a looming reality. Political observers said the huge demand for permits would also see a spike in corruption as desperate locals bribe officials for the acquisition of new permits which would see them remain legally in South Africa.
Independent economist, Vince Musewe, based in Harare said it was "tactical" for the South African government to force permit applicants to return to their home country for applications.
"I don't see why they have to come back to Zimbabwe; South Africa could have set-up facilities for permit applications in Musina and other areas within the South African borders. My suspicion is that South Africa will reduce permits given to Zimbabweans, as it is highly improbable that all 250 000 people will be given permits. It really is a smart way for the South African authorities to get people out of the country," said Musewe.
Adding further to the anxiety is Malusi Gigaba, the South African Home Affairs Minister's decision to only speak out on the fate of the 250 000 beneficiaries under the special dispensation next month.
"I wish to announce that we are in the final stages of deliberations about the Zimbabwean special dispensation, which will expire in December this year. I am mindful of the anxiety among the Zimbabwean nationals in possession of this special permit issued in 2010, but I shall announce my decision in August this year," said Gigaba last week before the South African Parliament on the occasion of Budget Vote 11 at the Extended Public Committee on Home Affairs.
If Gigaba's earlier statement on the issue in recent weeks is anything to go by, in which he indicated that granting new residence permits to 250 000 Zimbabweans would "shock the South African system," there appears to be no likelihood of Pretoria bending backwards to accommodate any longer Harare's citizens. Problems continue to mount within South Africa's own borders which include a fragile economy that has been compounded by a weak rand and a wave of strikes among metal workers and recently in the platinum belt of the North West.
Ndlovu says the new regulations would tear apart his family.
"If ever I am deemed an undesirable person that would deprive my son of a father for about five years. These regulations tear families apart," he said. With unemployment in Zimbabwe estimated at nearly 80 percent of the population by independent estimates and a booming informal sector which according to the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe transacts nearly US$7 billion, Zimbabwean nationals such as Ndlovu find it increasingly difficult to fathom the thought of entering the informal market should they return back home.
"I have become accustomed to life here…besides Zimbabwe now has a highly informal economy and I am not used to the life of dealing and would not survive," concedes Ndlovu. His dilemma is not unique to him. Many other Zimbabweans in South Africa will be affected. So will Zimbabweans in Botswana. The country's western neighbour, Botswana, earlier this month announced that it was tightening the screws on refugees who had received asylum in 2008.
Philani Ndiweni, based in Gaborone, Botswana has already spent P11 000 (US$1,227) in his bid to have a new permit processed by the Botswana authorities. "I have had two permits before; the first one in 2008 and the next in 2011, the application for 2014 has been rejected," said Ndiweni.
A freelance journalist based in Botswana for the past six years, Ndiweni said officials from Botswana's Labour and Home Affairs ministry had informed him that his job was not "a scarce skill" and this was the grounds used to reject his permit application.
"The next action is to appeal and that is another application which has to be paid for. In total it will cost P1 000 (US$112) to immigration and P2 000 (US$223) to a consultant. There is, however, no guarantee for success, but I am not considering coming back home as yet," said Ndiweni.
With the Zanu-PF government failing to slam the brakes on economic collapse since it swept into power more than a year ago, it remains unlikely that those in the Diaspora will be keen to troop back home en masse despite overtures from senior government officials to entice a return of the country's skilled labour force back home to help rebuild the economy.
Source - fingaz
