Staff Reporter

The Government of Zimbabwe is ready to receive its citizens who are likely to be deported from South Africa following that country’s failure to upgrade most of Zimbabweans’ Zimbabwe Exemptions Permits (ZEPs) to normal immigrant visas.

In a post Cabinet media briefing yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa disclosed that the Government has resolved that Zimbabweans legally working in South Africa whose ZEP permits had expired were free to bring back all their property duty free, including one vehicle.

“The Zimbabwean Government has issued guidelines and regulations for returning residents which include one duty-free vehicle and no limits to personal property. Government has also engaged the South African Government, emphasizing that Zimbabwe is ready to receive its returning nationals, who should comply with the relevant South African laws,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Minister Mutsvangwa revealed that the South African Government had initially given Zimbabweans working in that country a grace period of up to 31 December 2022 to apply for alternative visas, and later extended the ZEP validity to 30 June 2023. However, most ZEP holders failed to qualify for the outlined critical skills visas hence the low uptake.

The Minister added that in preparation to receive the returning residents, Cabinet agreed to establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee that will be supported by subcommittees which will include transport and logistics; security; documentation; re-integration support; resource mobilisation; information and publicity as well as health and education.

Meanwhile, ZEPs were given to Zimbabweans with skills that were crucial for the development of South Africa. However, that country now believes that its citizens were skilled enough to drive their economy hence the refusal to renew special Zimbabweans permits or issue new ones.