“IN times of test, family is best” is a Burmese proverb
that pays tribute to the family unit.
Family is indeed one of the most important institutions in
the world, especially in an African context, where sacrifices are made even for
distant kith and kin.
What more one’s child or spouse?
Last week, The Sunday Mail visited one of the country’s
Covid-19 quarantine centres, NSSA Hotel in Beitbridge, where it came
face-to-face with that undying love that sees spouses, fathers, mothers and
brothers leaving their homes and families behind in search of greener pastures.
And when the once attractive pastures, for one reason or
the other, become unpalatable, they retrace their footsteps to what they know
and are comfortable with — home and family.
Some returnees from South Africa like Mr Obey Mpofu of
Chitungwiza, said they had been having sleepless nights in the neighbouring
country thinking about their families.
“My family has had a hard time for the last six weeks under
a lockdown filled with uncertainty, especially that the border is closed to
non-essential human traffic,” said Mr Mpofu, one of the first people to respond
to the call for repatriation.
“We are grateful for this. We managed to travel home. Being
quarantined at home brings hope for a reunion with your family.”
Most of those coming back home narrated heart-rending
stories.
“The situation in Cape Town is bad for most Zimbabweans and
on behalf of my compatriots, I appeal for the Government to evacuate its
citizens,” said Ms Gertrude Mawunde.
“Most of those who are in less formal jobs, cannot hustle.
They have been evicted from their lodgings because they can’t afford rentals.”
Mawunde fears life might get worse for her compatriots as
Covid-19 infections are rising in South Africa, having recorded over 13 500
cases as of yesterday.
The country has been on lockdown for the past seven weeks. As a result, Zimbabweans in informal work have been hard
hit with nearly 3 000 seeking assistance to be repatriated home, while over 6
000 are food-insecure.
Ms Susan Rukweza described the last four weeks of her stay
in the southern neighbouring country as “pure hell”.
“I had only gone to South Africa for a church gathering and
left my children in Zimbabwe. Staying away from my children gave me nightmares.
I was heartbroken when the lockdown was extended by another two weeks.
“As a parent you get worried when you do not know how your
children are coping under such conditions. I am glad that our Government
managed to facilitate our return.”
For Mr Shepherd Mufara of Masvingo, lockdown in a foreign
land is something he never wants to experience again.
He said most cross-border traders were caught unawares and
had run out of food stocks and money.
“I am one of the people who got ecstatic when news broke
out that the embassy was facilitating our repatriation,” said Miss Ashley Nyamhondoro
from Mashonaland West.
“Things were getting tough. I could neither raise money for
rentals, nor upkeep. I have been working there (SA) for six months.
“I would rather start a new life in my home country than
being locked up with nothing to sustain my stay in a foreign land.”
Several other returnees had similar tales of agony, relief
and gratitude.
Migration itself is nothing new globally, more-so in Southern
Africa where colonialism forced people to migrate from rural areas to towns to
seek employment to fend for their families.
Later, with the growth of mines, particularly in South
Africa, people travelled from all over southern Africa to work in the gold and
diamond mines of Africa’s biggest economy. Thousands from the region worked and
perished there.
Zimbabweans are spread all over the world — with about 300
000 formally registered as migrant workers in SA. Most are drawn to the expanse
south of the Limpopo River because of that country’s sound economy while for
others, labour migration is simply a way of life.
Though many people have moved to SA since the 19th Century,
many migrated around 2009 when Pretoria relaxed travel restrictions.
The following year, SA was to host the FIFA World Cup, but
had a lot of outstanding infrastructure development projects hence the
introduction of the Zimbabwe Special Dispensation Permit (DZP) to boost their
workforce.
Hundreds of thousands responded to the neighbourly call. Since then, SA has become a second home to citizens from
north of the Limpopo in either a formal or less formal setup.
Through labour migration many Zimbabweans have afforded the
general upkeep of their families.
However, the year 2020 has been a turning point for many
migrants, mostly the Zimbabwean community, with the rapid spread of the
Covid-19 pandemic.
In response, Government is assisting its nationals, with
the help of many partners, to bring its nationals home via the Beitbridge Border
Post.
Upon getting to Beitbridge, they are screened and sent to
various quarantine centres closer to their homes.
Several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and UN
agencies have responded to the Zimbabwean Embassy’s call to assist their
compatriots with varied needs.
The Zimbabwe Community in SA has a database of 1 500 of
their fellow countrymen in need of food aid while another organisation, Unity
Zimbabwe, said it had registered more than 1 000 people for similar aid.
In essence, the situation for most Zimbabweans in the
neighbouring country remains dire.
Others are not too keen to come back home as they anticipate
the Covid-19 phase will pass soon but for many, home is best. Sunday Mail
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