ZIMBABWEANS in South Africa have welcomed the South African choice to increase the validity of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) by an extra six months, to permit the holders to use for a number of of the opposite visas and waivers supplied for within the Immigration Act.
The permits have been because of expire on the finish of this month and quite a few Zimbabweans residing and dealing in South Africa had began packing luggage forward of departure, with some searching for help to return residence.
In an announcement on Wednesday, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi mentioned throughout the subsequent six months, no holder of the ZEP will probably be arrested, ordered to depart or be detained for functions of deportation, or deported by way of the Immigration Act for any cause associated to not having a legitimate exemption certificates.
In separate interviews, the Zimbabweans mentioned the most recent transfer was welcome as it might permit most of them who’re but to get a response from Home Affairs Ministry one other alternative to repair their paperwork.
“As Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, we welcome the extension because just a few weeks ago, we and others started lobbying for the extension as the only realistic and practical way of ameliorate a pending humanitarian disaster,” mentioned the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, Advocate Gabriel Shumba.
“Among the serious issues are for instance children being forced to abandon school mid-year and the difficulties associated with migration to the mainstream permits. We welcome this announcement as a humane way of approaching this unfortunate issue that punishes those who comply with legislation and status requirements because of political considerations”.
He additionally urged the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa to urgently reconstitute the stakeholders’ discussion board for functions of session and dialogue.
The chairperson of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, Mr Ngqabutho Mabhena mentioned the extension is a constructive growth as the whole means of making use of for waiver and visa required greater than six months.
He additional urged Zimbabweans who’re holders of ZEPs to proceed making use of in addition to these whose passports are set to run out earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
“We welcome the extension by the Minister of Home Affairs, it was always clear to us that the entire process would not have been completed by the June 30 deadline as many people were still applying for waivers. We know, a waiver is not a visa. Once a person applies for a waiver they then apply for a visa,” mentioned Mr Mabhena.
“There was therefore no time for them to complete this process and as such we welcome this decision and also call upon Zimbabweans who are holders of ZEPs to continue to apply.”
Mr Mabhena urged the Verification Visa Centre to plan technique of expediting the applying course of to keep away from pointless delays.
“We are also calling upon those manning the Verification Visa Centre to improve their management system in receiving applications because many people have been complaining that there are no slots for submission. So, we hope that this extension will also allow the VFS to review its management system so that people do not get delayed whenever they want to submit their applications,” he mentioned
One of the ZEP holders, Miss Praise Matizirofa, mentioned the reprieve offers them extra time to use for different permits.
Another Zimbabwean primarily based in South Africa, Miss Bongani Siziba mentioned the extension has saved them an enormous headache of shifting youngsters from the faculties’ mid-year 12 months and managing their funds particularly those that have investments who’ve been in South Africa for greater than 10 years.
She mentioned many individuals risked dropping their property and investments contemplating that many had not obtained any suggestions on their functions and had develop into anxious.
“This is a relief for many Zimbabweans, especially those who had invested a lot in the last 10 years and were not sure of their fate after June 30 this year,” she mentioned.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa Mr David Hamadziripi mentioned on Wednesday that between 8 000 and 10 000 individuals had registered with the embassy to facilitate their easy return.
Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ministry spokesperson Mr Livit Mugejo mentioned the Government was ready to help and welcome returning Zimbabweans.
“All systems are ready. It changes nothing. We are going to keep on preparing to assist those who want to return. We are going to be ready to assist our citizens whenever the time comes,” he mentioned.
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At the second the Department of Immigration at Beitbridge Border Post is processing paperwork for a mean of 200 returning residents a day who’re holders of the ZEP.
Over 170 000 Zimbabweans are primarily based in South Africa beneath the particular allow. In November 2021, the South African Cabinet indicated that they might not make additional concessions for the ZEP holders, who have been then given a grace interval emigrate to different mainstream permits or return residence.
As such, Zimbabwe has been placing measures in place to facilitate a easy return of the affected Zimbabweans. Among different issues, the returnees will get pleasure from a free import rebate together with the transport of 1 automobile owned on the date of arrival in Zimbabwe.
In 2009, the South African authorities launched the Dispensation of Zimbabwean Project with the principle goal of offering amnesty to undocumented Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa to regularise their keep.
In 2018, the allow dispensation was prolonged and renamed to the ZEP, for 4 years which was because of expire on the finish of final 12 months. This was prolonged to the center of this 12 months.
