Reprieve came at last for hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals stranded in South Africa before the nationwide lockdown was imposed in the country. The Zimbabweans who were stranded in South Africa started getting despondent after many of them complained of loss of income as they can no longer sustain their stay in the country. To this end they implored their home government to come to their aid. The Zimbabwean government speaking through the High Commissioner to South Africa David Hamadziripi said that “what has necessitated the repatriation is the hardship some of our nationals are facing following this proclamation of the national state of disaster and the lockdown measures that have been implemented, which have entailed that we stay at home, without being able to go out and do normal activities.”
To actualize this, the Zimambwean government in collaboration with its South African counterpart and with the United Nations’ migration agency, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), provided technical support to the embassy in planning the trip logistics and carrying out this humanitarian repatriation exercise. The technical support also included co-ordination of pre-departure arrangements, pre-embarkation medical check and distribution of Covid-19-related awareness material.
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Hamadziripi said his countrymen were voluntarily returning to Zimbabwe. “The return to Zimbabwe is voluntary and ours is to support those who have voluntarily indicated that they wish to return to Zimbabwe. This is just the assisted repatriation. “There are others who have their own means, some have personal vehicles while others have used buses to go back to Zimbabwe.”In all those instances, the embassy provides support especially in getting the necessary clearances from the South African government,” said Hamadziripi.
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Six buses with trailers left Johannesburg and Pretoria weekend afternoon, transporting the Zimbabwean nationals. The total number of Zimbabwean nationals who left South Africa under the assisted programme – funded by Zimbabwean-born, Pretoria-based business tycoon Justice Maphosa, the chief executive and founder of Bigtime Strategic Group – was not immediately available. The travellers were also provided with meals before the trip, and on the long journey home.
Earlier this week, the embassy of Zimbabwe said that upon crossing into Zimbabwe all the returnees are subjected to mandatory quarantine at designated centres. The costs thereof are carried by the government. The embassy also said subsequent communication would be made regarding assistance for distressed Zimbabwean nationals who had elected to remain within the borders of South Africa.
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Last month, the German government said it had repatriated more than 5 600 of its citizens and other European Union citizens who became stranded in South Africa when the country imposed the nationwide lockdown.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry