Tendai Mundondo in South Africa
The resolution by the South African Government to extend the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs) until December 2022 and thereafter conduct a massive deportation of illegal Zimbabwean immigrants, was reportedly influenced by the behaviour of the G40 honchos residing in that country.
A contact within the South African Department of Home Affairs said the behaviour of former Zimbabwean Cabinet Ministers, that is, Walter Mzembi, Savour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao, influenced the decision. She said the trio influenced the beneficiaries of the ZEP to force the South African Government to grant Zimbabwe Special Dispensation Permits (ZSP) holders permanent residence status in South Africa.
According to contact, the trio influenced the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits Holders Association (ZEPHA), to approach the Gauteng High Court to direct the Minister of Home Affairs to issue ZSP holders with South African identification documents on the grounds that they were permanent residents of that country in terms of the Immigration Act read together with the Identification Act.
ZEPHA is led by MDC Alliance activist, Darlington Chihuta.
Contact said the G40’s move was a deliberate ploy meant to trigger deportation of Zimbabweans ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.
“They knew that it will get to where it is now. They actually wanted the deportation to be carried out earlier than December 2022. The late Dewa Mavhinga was involved in the scheme and he was the chief advisor of the trio,” said the contact.
There is a general belief that most of the Zimbabwean immigrants are MDC Alliance supporters who fled alleged ZANU PF persecution and economic challenges. The plotters believe that the deportees would vent their anger in the ballot box.
However, source said the South African security cluster chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa has recommended the deportation the G40 kingpins and declare them persona non grata.
The South African government has since reversed its decision to deport Zimbabweans who hold ZEPs which expire on 31 December 2021 and had been given until 31 December 2022 to regularise their papers.
