By Edgar Gweshe
Exploitation of Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa has worsened following plans by the Home Affairs Department to deport at least 40,000 who failed to meet the deadline to apply for permits under the Zimbabwe Special Permit (ZSP) window.
The majority of these are highly unlikely to return home given the dire economic situation characterised by company closures and high unemployment levels.
The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) Chairperson, Gabriel Shumba, said South African employers were capitalising on the desperation among Zimbabweans living as illegal immigrants after they failed to regularise their stay.
“There is rampant exploitation of our people not only in South Africa, but all over the world. It is worse in South Africa though because exploitation is not only economic but in some instances sexual,” said Shumba.
He blamed Home Affairs for inefficiency.
“It is extremely hypocritical for anybody to say that those that have not renewed are in that situation because they chose not to renew their legal status. The reality is that circumstances beyond their control, and in many instances related to the inefficiency at Home Affairs, put them in this invidious position.
“For example, missing reference numbers and files under the Zimbabwe Documentation Project made it impossible to apply under the Zimbabwe Special Permit regime, and there are many in that category. The online process itself was either inaccessible or not user friendly to many,” said Shumba, adding that it was unfortunate the government had not made a commitment to pardon political activists who fled persecution.
“Of course, those like me who have claimed political exile are not free. It is the same government that we fled from which is still in control, and there are scant signs of positive reform, politically or economically. No amnesty has been announced for those alleged to have committed economic crimes, nor is there immunity from selective prosecution for political activists,” said Shumba. The Zimbabwean
