THE opposition MDC-T party has urged South Africa to help solve the “crisis” in its northern neighbour after Pretoria extended the temporary residency permits of some 250,000 Zimbabweans, admitting it would take time for Harare to return to stability.
Accoring to the party, the one-way flow of immigrants across the shared border between the two countries would likely continue if there is no lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s political and economic problems.
“The MDC-T applauds the South African government for extending the Zimbabwe Special Dispensation Permits (ZSP), but also for acknowledging that there is ongoing political and economic instability in the country,” said the party’s shadow home affairs minister Lilian Timveos.
“By extending the permits, South Africa has shown that she is a neighbour indeed, spreading the spirit of Ubuntu espoused the late Nelson Mandela.”
South Africa’s home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba had signalled a tougher approach position ahead of this week’s decision, signalling Pretoria was increasingly becoming concerned about the mass presence of Zimbabweans in the country.
More than a million locals are thought to have crossed the Limpopo over the last decade or so to escape an economic collapse back home with 250,000 of these securing a permit that allowed them to live legally in South Africa until this December.
Gigaba had appeared reluctant to extend the permits, saying in July: "l want to be blunt, 250,000 Zimbabweans are holders of these permits.
“Once you extend with one year, 250,000 Zimbabweans will apply for permanent resident citizenship and that will be a shock to the system and government."
He also questioned the asylum claims by Zimbabweans saying: “We must ask: Is there a conflict in Zimbabwe which necessitates that Zimbabwean nationals must apply for asylum in South Africa?" he asked.
Said Gigaba on Tuesday: “While we note the ongoing political and economic recovery in Zimbabwe, consistently supported by the South African government, we are aware that it will take time for her to fully stabilise.”
“As a party, the MDC would like to highlight the plight of thousands, perhaps millions, of Zimbabweans operating illegally in South Africa and call for normalisation of their stay until the situation normalises in Zimbabwe,” she said.
South Africa, which helped broker a coalition government in Harare after violent and disputed elections in 2008, should also work towards ending the crisis in its northern neighbour to stem the flow of immigrants across the Limpopo.
“We appreciate South Africa's offer of meaningful support to Zimbabwe so that we can resolve our own economic challenges and solve this immigration issue once and for all,” Timveos.
“The MDC urges the South African government to see this crisis as more than just a wave of hapless immigrants attracted by SA's bright lights but as a crisis of governance in Zimbabwe and influence SADC and the international community to act accordingly.”