South Africa September 2005 |
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| Desperate Zimbabweans swamp Limpopo, (Sapa, 2005-09-18):-Hundreds of desperate Zimbabweans are flooding into the rural areas of Limpopo every day looking for food and work, City Press reported on Sunday. Edgy local residents, fearing they might be swamped, have called in the police for help. Police said they arrested at least 100 Zimbabweans a day in one district alone, and in one village near Makhado, villagers resolved to expel Zimbabweans. The escalating human crisis has prompted the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to commission "an audit to establish the extent of the problem", City Press said. NIA boss Billy Masetla said the issue was of "huge concern". The audit was necessary to pinpoint the extent of the growing influx, he said. City Press reported finding refugees living in plastic shovels in the bush near Tshivhilwi village, and said about 200 people a day were arriving there. Masetla said the Zimbabweans were looking for piece jobs, and predicted they would eventually return home. The Zimbabwe economy has collapsed, and the Zimbabwe dollar has declined to 52,000 to the US dollar. "They actually migrate and the number of trucks, taxis and buses ferrying people here to buy basic things increases daily," Masetla said. He hoped political intervention "would give rise to the possibility of halting the economic meltdown". The crisis is concentrated around Musina and Thohoyandou, but other areas of Limpopo are also affected. Police spokesman Superintendent Ailwei Mushavhanamadi was reported as saying the uncontrolled influx was "a very serious problem". Residents of Tshivhilwi village, about 30km east of Thohoyandou, said there were about 2000 Zimbabweans there. A member of the civic association there described the situation as serious. At least 80 Zimbabweans a day were crossing the river and settling in the village. "It is actually threatening," said civic representative Humbulani Rasilingwani. The Department of Home Affairs said moves were underway to scrap visa requirements with Zimbabwe. Mushavhanamadi said illegal immigrants were deported 48 hours after being arrested, City press reported. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |