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Zimbabweans caught between two broken health systems
When Matilda Sibanda left Bulawayo for South Africa ten years ago, her decision was driven by Zimbabwe's collapsing healthcare system. Now 34, she finds herself in a devastating limbo - unable to acce...Published: 28 Jul 2025 at 14:19hrs | 446 | by Staff reporter
Illegal miners invade Rhodes Estate in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean Government has deployed security and environmental agencies to the Rhodes Estate in the Matopos National Park following growing concerns over illegal gold mining activities that are thr...Published: 30 Jan 2025 at 06:53hrs | 363 | by Staff reporter
South Africa to consult over Zimbabweans facing deportation
South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has announced plans to consult on the future of approximately 230,000 Zimbabwean and Lesotho migrants after a court halted their deportation attempts, reports...Published: 19 Jul 2024 at 19:38hrs | 3611 | by Staff Reporter
SA govt called to stop exploitation of Zimbabwe domestic workers
The Africa Diaspora Forum (ADF) says Zimbabwean domestic workers should be granted special permits because they work for South African families that cannot afford to pay the minimum wage.The f...Published: 21 Jan 2024 at 09:01hrs | 5 | by Staff reporter
Activist condemns SA for ending permits for Zimbabwean nationals
ENDING permits for Zimbabweans and Basotho nationals living in South Africa is unconstitutional and sets a bad precedent for the country's democracy.This is according to the spokesperson of th...Published: 03 Dec 2023 at 10:40hrs | 12 | by Staff reporter
Aaron Motsoaledi goes after SA court over Zimbabwe Exemption Permits
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is seeking leave to appeal a Gauteng High Court ruling that found his decision to terminate Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) was "unlawful, unconstitutional, an...Published: 19 Sep 2023 at 06:36hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
ZEP holders not keen on Zimbabwe return
ZIMBABWEANS that are facing deportation from South Africa after the expiry of their special permits in June are not taking the government's offer to register for assistance to return home voluntarily,...Published: 27 Apr 2023 at 06:33hrs | | by Staff reporter
SA court to decide ZEP holders' fate this week
ZIMBABWE Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders in South Africa will this week learn of their fate when their case is heard by a full bench at Pretoria High Court starting today.The full bench will he...Published: 12 Apr 2023 at 08:09hrs | | by Staff reporter
Counselling for SA returnees
GOVERNMENT has started equipping frontline workers, who will assist an estimated 170 000 holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP), with counselling and psychosocial skills which will assist in ...Published: 05 Apr 2023 at 11:54hrs | 13 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabweans returning from SA battling to make ends meet
The Zimbabwean government says it has put in place a range of measures to help Zimbabweans returning from South Africa. But many say they are battling to make ends meet.Faced with the expiry o...Published: 30 Mar 2023 at 06:48hrs | 13 | by Staff reporter
Mini census as Zimbabwe prepares for South Africa returnees
GOVERNMENT is undertaking a mini census on the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders in South Africa to determine the total number of those that will be expatriated back home.South Africa ha...Published: 30 Mar 2023 at 06:34hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe rolls outreach programme to engage South Africa returnees
GOVERNMENT has rolled out the second phase of engaging citizens in South Africa as part of finalising the process of a smooth return of Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders.The Zimbabwe Emb...Published: 08 Mar 2023 at 05:31hrs | 4 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe embassy prepares for return of SA permit holders
THE Government has rolled out the second phase of engaging citizens in South Africa as part of finalising the process of a smooth return of Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders.The Zimbabwe...Published: 08 Mar 2023 at 05:28hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter
Bleak future for Zimbabwe's returning citizens
ZIMBABWEANS expected to return from South Africa in four months' time after the expiry of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs) face a bleak future as the government has failed to put in place socia...Published: 27 Feb 2023 at 15:52hrs | 5 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe ready to welcome 178 000 locals from South Africa
MORE than 178 000 Zimbabweans are expected back home from South Arica after the expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) in June this year.The imminent return of Zimbabweans, who have be...Published: 26 Feb 2023 at 09:12hrs | 16 | by Staff reporter
Reflecting on the export ban for raw lithium
Through Statutory Instrument 213 of 2022 (Referend to as Base Minerals Export Control for unbeneficiated Lithium Bearing Ores), Zimbabwe banned the export of raw lithium from the country. The regulati...Published: 31 Jan 2023 at 09:12hrs | 4 | by Victor Bhoroma
Zimbabwe schools ready to absorb children of ZEP permit holders
MOST schools re-opened smoothly yesterday countrywide with the Government saying it is ready to reintegrate children of Zimbabweans based in South Africa into the country's education system when they ...Published: 10 Jan 2023 at 18:22hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter
'SA mass deportation pile pressure on Zimbabwe'
THE scheduled mass deportation of Zimbabweans living in South Africa in June 2023 is anticipated to increase pressure on the infrastructure of this country, including the health care sector, experts s...Published: 21 Nov 2022 at 18:33hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Embassy rolls out documentation of Zimbabweans in Botswana
THE Zimbabwean Embassy in Botswana has joined hands with the neighbouring country's government to rollout a comprehensive documentation exercise for immigrants in order to regularise their stay and en...Published: 03 Nov 2022 at 05:05hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Duty-free facility for citizens returning from SA
Thousands of Zimbabweans returning home from South Africa after failing to have their exemption permits upgraded to normal immigrant visas can now bring back all their belongings duty-free, including ...Published: 02 Nov 2022 at 05:01hrs | | by Staff reporter
No hope for Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders?
THE National Employers' Association of South Africa (NEASA) has called on its members to check Zimbabwean employees' documentation ahead of the expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) in Decem...Published: 01 Oct 2022 at 18:56hrs | | by Staff reporter
ANC cannot continue treating Zanu-PF with kid gloves
SOUTH Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) should once again confront its sister revolutionary party Zanu-PF over the escalating immigration crisis across the Limpopo, with analysts sayi...Published: 27 Aug 2022 at 20:49hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
The day South Africa closes the border
THE past two decades have seen over 1,5 million Zimbabweans migrate to South Africa as economic refugees. Most of the refugees are unskilled and, therefore, directly compete with locals for menial job...Published: 27 Aug 2022 at 06:20hrs | 1 | by Paidamoyo Muzulu
No hope for Zimbabwe Exemption Permits holders
THE National Employers' Association of South Africa (NEASA) has called on its members to check Zimbabwean employees' documentation ahead of the expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) in Decem...Published: 26 Aug 2022 at 20:49hrs | 12 | by Staff reporter
South Africa plans to end most special permits for foreigners
South Africa plans to end most special permits for foreigners as it revamps its immigration policies to manage an influx of economic migrants.The government announced that a special dispensati...Published: 26 Aug 2022 at 20:48hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
SA employers of Zimbabwean permit holders told to make preparations as grace period approaches
South African employers of Zimbabwean nationals using the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) are advised to start making preparations ahead of December, 2022.Cabinet's decision to end special p...Published: 23 Aug 2022 at 07:27hrs | 8 | by Staff reporter
Ramaphosa ally says Zimbabweans should be in their home
ZIMBABWEANS should be in their home country and all nations "need to take responsibility of their citizens" a South African cabinet minister and senior ruling African National Congress (ANC) party off...Published: 19 Jul 2022 at 06:20hrs | 10 | by Staff reporter
Action, not rhetoric, Sir
DEAR President Emmerson MnangagwaYour Excellency, if truth be told, Zimbabwe ought not have been in a persistent vegetative state. She was the jewel of Africa at independence in 1980. Yet, eve...Published: 13 Apr 2022 at 06:41hrs | 4 | by Cyprian M Ndawana
Dear Zimbabweans, time for brutal conversation about xenophobia in South Africa
I AM a Zimbabwean, so this is difficult to write, and I stand to lose a lot. But I will do it anyway.Anti-immigrant sentiments, or much simply xenophobia is difficult to write about because no...Published: 12 Apr 2022 at 06:32hrs | 2 | by Maynard Manyowa
Mnangagwa unhappy with gas licensees
Delays by some investors in implementing projects for renewable or lower carbon energy are potentially hampering Zimbabwe's progress despite the investors being awarded special permits by the Governme...Published: 26 Mar 2022 at 06:15hrs | | by Staff reporter
SA govt tackles violence against Zimbabweans
THE South African government has started tackling attacks on foreigners, including Zimbabweans, by a grouping that launched an anti-foreigner campaign it calls Operation Dudula.The campaign ha...Published: 17 Feb 2022 at 05:37hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Ramaphosa under pressure to decant indifference to Zanu PF rigging 2023 elections
The worsening economic situation in SA is forcing ANC to revisit its indifference to Zimbabwe's curse of rigged elections and bad governance. SA cannot afford a new wave of economic and/or political r...Published: 16 Feb 2022 at 13:09hrs | | by Patrick Guramatunhu
South Africa and foreign labour
THE unemployment rate in South Africa hit a new record high of nearly 35% in the third quarter of 2021 which some allege had an influence on the African National Congress (ANC) dismal performance in l...Published: 14 Feb 2022 at 05:29hrs | 2 | by Tapiwa Gomo
Zimbabwe dumps SA-based students
GOVERNMENT has practically dumped Zimbabwean students affected by a recent South African government directive which withdrew a waiver allowing students to apply for permanent residence permits....Published: 11 Feb 2022 at 16:34hrs | 8 | by Staff reporter
The sad story of Zimbabweans in SA
MOLTEN anger rolled through him as he beheld what was left of his small grocery enterprise.Windows were shattered, the door vandalised and several grocery items missing while the remaining few...Published: 04 Feb 2022 at 21:31hrs | 14 | by Staff reporter
More woes for SA-based Zimbabweans
ZIMBABWEAN students in neighbouring South Africa have suffered a major blow after Pretoria withdrew a waiver allowing them to apply for permanent residence permits.Foreign students studying in...Published: 04 Feb 2022 at 05:42hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabweans told to leave South Africa ?
Thousands of Zimbabweans recently given 12 months to leave South Africa have suffered a double whammy after a "cruel" decision by Zimbabwean authorities which will rob them of a chance to enjoy the Ne...Published: 31 Dec 2021 at 00:14hrs | 11 | by Staff reporter
SA permit holders mount fresh appeal
LAWYERS representing about 180 000 Zimbabwean special exemption permit (ZEP) holders in South Africa yesterday said they were planning to mount a fresh appeal to protect their clients' rights followin...Published: 24 Dec 2021 at 16:42hrs | 9 | by Staff reporter
Confusion engulfs SA Home ministry over Zimbabwe permits
South African Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi blamed officials from his office for the confusion that engulfed the withdrawal of a directive that could have seen special permit holders from Zim...Published: 17 Dec 2021 at 23:39hrs | 8 | by Staff reporter
Fraudsters hit Zimbabwe Exemption Permit visa seekers
DESPERATE attempts by some Zimbabweans in South Africa to clandestinely acquire special work permits are reportedly backfiring amid reports that many are being conned to believe they will be assisted ...Published: 17 Dec 2021 at 23:39hrs | 11 | by Staff reporter
South Africa's Aaron Motsoaledi adds more confusion to the Zimbabwe permits issue
SOUTH Africa's Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has dismissed claims by some sections of the media in that country that the decision not to extend the special permits for Zimbabweans had bee...Published: 14 Dec 2021 at 22:49hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabweans engage South African government over permits
THE Zimbabwe Community in South Africa (ZCSA) has engaged South Africa's Department of Home Affairs seeking a waiver of some of the requirements for obtaining permits following a decision by that coun...Published: 12 Dec 2021 at 19:55hrs | 10 | by Staff reporter
Mnangagwa reaches out to diaspora
President Mnangagwa has said Zimbabweans living abroad are always welcome back home to play their part in building a prosperous country.Speaking at the memorial service of the late Lt General ...Published: 12 Dec 2021 at 19:54hrs | 14 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabweans engage Ramaphosa's deputy over permits
ZIMBABWE Community in South Africa chairperson Ngqabutho Mabhena on Tuesday engaged South African Deputy President David Mabuza seeking his intervention over plans not to renew permits for Zimbabwean ...Published: 12 Dec 2021 at 19:38hrs | 11 | by Staff reporter
Helen Suzman Foundation fights in Zimbabwe migrants corner
MORE than 200 000 Zimbabwean migrants holding South African special permits called Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) yesterday received a major boost when the Helen Suzman Foundation moved in to assi...Published: 03 Dec 2021 at 18:23hrs | 10 | by Staff reporter
SA outlines new Zimbabwe permits roadmap
SOUTH Africa's Department of Home Affairs yesterday outlined the road map to be followed by Zimbabweans who hold special dispensation permits in migrating to mainstream permits in the next 12 months....Published: 03 Dec 2021 at 05:35hrs | 7 | by Staff reporter
Mnangagwa's govt urges Zimbabweans based in South Africa to come back home
THE government has urged Zimbabweans living in neighbouring South Africa to adhere to that country's administration's decisions of not extending their Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) beyond 2022....Published: 02 Dec 2021 at 06:45hrs | | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe govt to engage SA on the non-renewal of special permits
ZIMBABWE's top envoy to South Africa, ambassador David Hamadziripi says government accepts the decision by the South African government to discontinue the issuing of special permits to Zimbabweans, bu...Published: 26 Nov 2021 at 20:31hrs | 1 | by Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe envoy sweats over Ramaphosa lawsuit
HARARE'S top diplomat in Pretoria, David Hamadziripi, said this week a court case filed by Zimbabwean migrants against President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration over special work permit renewals has ...Published: 13 Nov 2021 at 05:56hrs | 10 | by Staff reporter
SA to decide on renewal of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits
THE South African Cabinet will soon announce a decision on the renewal of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) for nearly 180 000 Zimbabweans based in the neighbouring country.Zimbabweans have...Published: 02 Nov 2021 at 05:34hrs | 10 | by Staff reporter
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