ZIMBABWEANS based in South Africa are willing to return home but are reluctant to do so at the moment because of the unstable economy, a leader of a group pushing for renewal of special permits for locals in the neighbouring country has said.
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South Africa’s Home Affairs minister early this week revealed that he would make his decision on the fate of 250 000 Zimbabweans who were given temporary residence and work permits next month.
Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson Ngqabutho Mabhena who was instrumental in the negotiation for the permits said most of the beneficiaries of the Zimbabwe Special Dispensation project had been gripped by anxiety.
“From the 250 000 that who got the permits, a huge percentage runs businesses from tourism to the manufacturing sector and they held South African IDs that they used to set up their ventures,” he said.
“So with the permits due to expire and announcement on their fate due in August, there is a lot of anxiety and panic within that group of people.
“If the economic climate improves here, most Zimbabweans, especially professionals, are keen to return home. The current political situation does not necessitate a majority of Zimbabweans to seek political asylum.
“The political climate has improved here but there could be isolated cases of individuals who feel threatened,” he added.
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Mabhena said the exiles did not believe that the new government had concrete plans to turn the economy around.
“ZimAsset has not addressed the economic fundamentals that it seeks to do,” he said.
“Teachers and nurses who went to South Africa are engaged in other trades outside their line of training.
“From our interactions with them, they are expressing eagerness to come back, but the economy is a major sticking issue.”
He said most of the immigrants in South Africa were from the Matabeleland region
“In terms of Zimbabweans in South Africa, the majority are from the Matabeleland region, but about 51% of those with special permits are from outside Matabeleland,” Mabhena said.
“The reason is that people from outside Matabeleland started flocking to South Africa in large numbers after 2002 and they were given asylum. When the special dispensation project began, they were asked to migrate from asylum seekers to special permit holders.
“A vast majority of people from Matabeleland, who were already in South Africa before the special dispensation project, were holders of South African IDs. Only 6 000 surrendered the IDs,” he said.
South Africa has introduced new tough immigration laws that would see visitors who overstay being barred from entering the country.
