Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, has said there is nothing unusual about Zimbabweans migrating to South Africa.
Hamadziripi insisted that migration is a global phenomenon, with people leaving even developed countries for better opportunities elsewhere.
Since the early 2000s, millions of Zimbabweans have left their country, with a significant number seeking refuge in South Africa, where many live and work, often illegally.
Zimbabwe’s ongoing economic crisis under the ZANU PF-led government has driven citizens to seek better prospects in neighbouring countries and beyond, with South Africa hosting the largest proportion of these migrants.
In an interview with SABC reporter Clement Manyathela on the programme “Face The Nation”, Hamadziripi asserted that the movement of Zimbabweans to South Africa is not a new trend.
When asked about the Zimbabwean government’s responsibility regarding the influx of citizens seeking jobs, healthcare, and improved living conditions in South Africa and other countries, Hamadziripi responded:
<blockquote>
Migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa is not a recent phenomenon. It is historical and we can go way back many years and we can see that there has been migration from Zimbabwe into South Africa.
Zimbabwe is not the only country with nationals who come to South Africa. The reasons why they come to South Africa are varied because migration intrinsically is an individual decision.
We know even those countries considered the best countries to live in, you have people migrating from those countries.
</blockquote>
When asked what the Zimbabwean government was doing to improve the situation and prevent citizens from leaving the country in large numbers, Hamadziripi responded:
<blockquote>
I can tell you that the government of Zimbabwe is taking all measures it can to improve the economic situation in Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
In August 2022, the then Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba (pictured above) made controversial comments about Zimbabwean migrants, saying they were straining the provincial healthcare system.
In a widely circulated video, she told a Zimbabwean patient at a Bela Bela hospital that South Africa was not running a charity and that migrants were not budgeted for in the healthcare system.
Ramathuba said the healthcare system was meant for the people of Limpopo and that foreign nationals were not part of the budget.
Her comments sparked backlash, with the Zimbabwean embassy expressing shock and disbelief, and calling for diplomatic engagement to address the issue.
Recent reports suggest that some Zimbabwean women are crossing into South Africa illegally to give birth, to register their children as South African citizens to access social grants.
This has led to increased border patrols by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to curb illegal immigration.

Pindula News

Zimbabwe's Ambassador to South Africa says it's normal for people to move to find better opportunities. Many Zimbabweans went to South Africa to escape problems in their own country. The government of Zimbabwe is trying to make things better so people won't need to leave. A South African official said the healthcare system is for South Africans, not migrants. Some Zimbabwean women are crossing the border to have babies in South Africa so they can get benefits. The South African military is increasing patrols to stop illegal immigration.

Zimbabwe’s Ambassador Defends Influx Of Zimbabweans Into South Africa

Many Zimbabweans are happy about recent changes made by the South African government to speed up the visa process and digitise documents in the Department of Home Affairs.
They believe this will give them another chance to remain working in South Africa.
Gabriel Shumba, a Zimbabwean lawyer and director at Global Immigration and Legal Consultancy, welcomed the move, saying it is good news for migrants looking to stay in South Africa. Said Shumba (via <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200034595/zimbos-hail-new-sa-visa-regime">Southern Eye</a>):
<blockquote>
We welcome the Department of Home Affairs’ efforts to hasten the adjudication of visa applications. This obviously will remove the anxiety and uncertainty that has always characterised many an applicant’s brief sojourn in the republic.
In addition, this efficiency will assist the Republic of South Africa to obtain within record time the much needed skills that are necessary to boost the economy. Efficiency will also help to reduce corruption and that’s welcome.
</blockquote>
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs recently established five immigration targets aimed at reducing waiting times for immigration visa processes for the upcoming financial year. It said:
<blockquote>
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is continuing its drive for increased efficiency. Focusing on the immigration and civil service departments, DHA has placed its commitments to speeding up certification and visa processing on record.
The department presented the 2024 Budget Review and Recommendations Report to Parliament on October 25…
The DHA’s immigration service targets for the 2024/25 financial year are to have 85% of permanent residence applications for critical skills, general work and business to be collected within South Africa adjudicated within eight months, to have 95% of critical skills visa applications made in South Africa processed within four weeks, to have 90% of business visa applications made in South Africa adjudicated within eight weeks, to have 90% of general work visa applications made in South Africa adjudicated within eight weeks and to lead 2 000 law enforcement operations or inspections for target areas.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabweans are happy South Africa is making visa process quicker and more digital. They think it will help them stay and work in South Africa. A Zimbabwean lawyer, Gabriel Shumba, likes the changes because it will reduce anxiety and uncertainty for visa applicants. South Africa aims to process visas faster to get needed skills for their economy. The Department of Home Affairs wants to improve efficiency and reduce corruption. They set targets for processing visas within specific timeframes. Zimbabweans are hopeful this will make it easier for them to live and work in South Africa.

Zimbabweans Welcome South Africa’s Visa Application Overhaul

A Zimbabwean bus driver abandoned his vehicle and 78 passengers during a stop and search operation in Moretele in the North West, South Africa on Wednesday.
The Department of Community Safety and Transport said immigration officials established that all of the passengers were undocumented Zimbabweans, reported <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/bus-driver-flees-during-north-west-police-roadblock-abandoning-78-undocumented-passengers-20240111">News24</a>.
The bus was en route to Johannesburg when officers stopped it on the R101 on Wednesday. The driver fled on foot.
Department of Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson Tshegofatso Lucas Mothibedi said that traffic police handed the case over to the police.
The police took the passengers to the Makapanstad police station to verify their documents before impounding the vehicle.
Immigration officials established that all the passengers including the driver were undocumented.
Some of the passengers were released and others were taken into custody.
North West Community Safety and Transport Management Member of the Executive Council (MEC) Sello Lehari commended authorities for enforcing the law.
According to a <a href="https://arjess.org/social-sciences-research/causes-of-irregular-migration-of-people-from-zimbabwe-to-south-africa-in-the-post-mugabe-regime.pdf">report</a>, nearly 3.4 million Zimbabweans have migrated to South Africa due to economic hardship, unemployment and political persecution.
A report by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in August 2020 said that hundreds of people cross the border illegally from Zimbabwe into South Africa daily.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwean Bus Driver Abandons 78 Undocumented Passengers At Police Roadblock In SA

The scheduled <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/there-will-be-no-forever-extensions-for-zeps-motsoaledi/">mass deportation of Zimbabweans living in South Africa in June 2023</a> is anticipated to increase pressure on the infrastructure of this country.
According to the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_National_Statistics_Agency_(ZIMSTAT)">Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT)</a>, South Africa is <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zimstat-says-south-africa-botswana-and-uk-are-the-major-destinations-for-zimbabweans/">officially home to 773 246 Zimbabweans</a> although some estimates put the figure at around three million.
The mass deportation would become a burden to the already failing infrastructure such as roads, electricity and the health sector, The NewsHawks reported quoting economic analyst <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Prosper_Chitambara">Prosper Chitambara</a>. He is cited as saying:
<blockquote>
The government then needs to enhance spending on hard infrastructure for that infrastructure to be able to support the influx of the Zimbabweans that are coming back from South Africa.
Social protection will become critical because most of them will not be able to find meaningful employment so they don’t find themselves living in absolute poverty.
</blockquote>
<h2>Some Context:</h2>
The South African government is scheduled to depart thousands of Zimbabweans after 30 June 2023 following the termination of Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs). 
The ZEP programme began when the South African government granted “special dispensation” for Zimbabweans who were in the country illegally, many of them having fled violence and instability in Zimbabwe. 
The South African government replaced Special Dispensation for Zimbabweans with Zimbabwean Special Permits in 2014; then it replaced Zimbabwean Special Permits with ZEPs in 2017.
ZEP holders who are unable to secure a different visa after the grace period elapses will be deported and will pile pressure on the ailing infrastructure.
While the Zimbabwean government says it is ready for mass deportation, Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya saysZimbabwe does not have the capacity to cater for  Zimbabweans living in South Africa as it is struggling to cater for 1 million jobless graduates in Zimbabwe.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Mass Deportation Of Zimbabweans In South Africa Will Increase Pressure On Zimbabwe - Analysts

Police in South Africa has arrested a gang of armed robbers suspected to be made up of Zimbabweans that had firearms and spikes which it has been using in its operations.
Police allege that most of the operations were carried out in N4.
Scores of Zimbabweans skipped the country’s borders into South Africa where they do all sorts of jobs including menial, <a href="https://vacancymail.co.za/categories/education-teaching-training--jobs-in-south-africa/">teaching</a>, <a href="https://vacancymail.co.za/categories/logistics-driving-freight-transport-jobs-in-south-africa/">driving</a>, plumbing and many others while others have been into prostitution and thievery.
They ran away from the collapsing economy and or political conflict that worsened at the turn of the millennium.
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Watch the video below for more.
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