By Reginald Tapfumaneyi
The Zimbabwean government has joined hands with the private sector and NGOs to repatriate undocumented Zimbabwean immigrants from South Africa, following similar actions taken by other African countries.
Ghana was the first African country to act, sending planes to ferry its citizens from different parts of South Africa, followed by Nigeria.
Through the Civil Protection Unit, the Zimbabwean government is operating in Beitbridge to facilitate the evacuation of stranded, undocumented immigrants from South Africa. Once in Beitbridge, local buses transport them to their various destinations across the country.
At the center, the CPU is also mobilizing food and medical supplies for migrants as they await documentation.
One of the organizations assisting in this initiative is NOSH (No One Sleeps Hungry), an NGO that has provided buses and food.
Afzal Motiwala, the spokesperson for the organization, said his organization intends to do more in partnership with the government.
“Our team was on the ground working with the government and assessing the situation.
We had earlier booked 20 buses from Johannesburg to Beitbridge, but indications are that Zimbabweans in Cape Town are in more urgent need of transport compared to elsewhere. So we are now working on reshuffling them,” he said.
President Cde. Emmerson Mnangagwa has assured the nation that his government is ready to assist with the reintegration of all people returning from South Africa, and that no one will be left stranded.
