Government has offered to assist more than 100 Zimbabweans
in South Africa who now wish to return home as they are distressed and finding
it difficult to make ends meet due to the national lockdown in that country.
Chronicle understands that over 550 have approached
Zimbabwe’s embassy in South Africa and the majority want support in the form of
food packages while over 100 requested to be brought home.
At the moment, the embassy is focusing on those who wish to
be repatriated. The lockdown in South Africa started on March 21 and was last
week extended to April 30.
In a statement, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Ambassador to South
Africa, Counsellor Martin Makururu said Zimbabweans wishing to be assisted to
return home can register on an online platform.
He said the embassy was now liaising with the head office
in Harare on the possibility of repatriating those willing to return back to
Zimbabwe.
“It has come to the attention of embassy and consulates that
some members of our community are facing challenges which may make their
continued stay in South Africa uncomfortable.
“The embassy wishes to advise members of the community that
the Government of the Republic of South Africa allows for the voluntary,
orderly repatriation of foreign nationals to their countries of origin during
the lockdown period,” said Counsellor Makururu.
“The Embassy is liaising with Head Office in Harare on the
possibility of such an eventuality. Zimbabwe borders remain open to allow for
the return of citizens and permanent residents even during the lockdown
period.”
Counsellor Makururu said the Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria
and its consulates in Cape Town and Johannesburg are reaching out to the
Zimbabwean community in South Africa.
“Citizens and permanent residents who choose to exercise
the option of returning to Zimbabwe during the lockdown period are expected to
go into compulsory quarantine for a period of 21 days.
“While consultations with head office in Harare are
underway, the embassy will continue with efforts to come up with a
comprehensive evaluation of the situation on the ground as it develops and your
input in the exercise will be greatly valued.
“Meanwhile should you opt to return home kindly provide
your details on www.surveymonkey.com,” he said.
Counsellor Makururu said those who wished to return home
had to provide their full names and surnames, passport or national identity
card numbers, age, gender, current physical address, local phone number, home
address and phone number of next of kin in Zimbabwe as well as the home address
in Zimbabwe.
An official at the embassy said so far, they have received
at least 550 responses with a majority of those requesting for food aid while
more than 100 want to be repatriated.
“We have received over 550 responses and the majority want
support in the form of food packages while over 100 requested to be brought
home. The embassy is focusing on those who wish to be repatriated,” said the
official.
The official said those in need of food have since been
referred to humanitarian organisations.
The official said they are currently in the process of
ascertaining the exact numbers of those who have registered for repatriation.
The exact date of repatriation is yet to be announced as
the embassy is currently seized with the process of profiling those who
registered.
“We are at the very initial stages of this process and
presently, we want to ascertain the numbers of those who may wish to be
repatriated. Given the current circumstances of lockdown and the quarantine
requirements of those entering Zimbabwe, we have to coordinate the movement
with the relevant institutions in Zimbabwe to ensure that all necessary
measures are observed to avoid the possible spread of the Covid-19,” said the
official.
“Today (yesterday) was the first full day since the message
was sent out. We will see how the numbers are tomorrow (today) and then propose
timelines.”
There is a large number of Zimbabweans living in South
Africa.
Some are formally employed across all the sectors of the
economy that include banking, hospitality and education with the majority doing
menial jobs and others are unemployed. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment