Mozambique scraps visas for Zimbabweans

By Henry Makiwa
8 October 2007

The governments of Zimbabwe and Mozambique on Wednesday agreed to scrap visas for their citizens crossing into each other’s countries, amid fears that the move will open the floodgates for millions of Zimbabweans fleeing economic hardships at home.
Mozambique's Interior Minister Jose Pacherco and his Zimbabwean counterpart Kembo Mohadi, last week signed the immigration pact that will see the visa laws undone at the beginning of November.
A statement released after the signing in of the agreement said Zimbabweans and their eastern neighbours would be allowed to enter each other’s country for a maximum stay of 30 days. In addition, the statement stressed that individuals who exceeded their stay period would face punitive legal measures.
Observers believe Pacherco had signed the agreement to dissuade thousands of Zimbabweans from entering Mozambique illegally, and to ensure that they return home after doing business in the country.

"We believe the fears that Zimbabweans would come to seek refuge here in
increasing numbers are misplaced,” the statement quotes Pacherco.
“This agreement will instead help reduce the number of people entering both countries illegally, and it will open us to greater economic growth and development,” he said in the statement.
Fears however, remain that millions of Zimbabweans, faced by a harsh economic environment and an economic meltdown, will continue to flood into Mozambique to eke out a living.
A journalist at Radio Mozambique, Jose Tembe, said authorities took a gamble when they signed the agreement.
He said: “The two governments agreed that there would be need to institute stiff measures if people over-stayed on the other side and this was in consideration of the economic crisis facing Zimbabwe.”
Tembe added: “What Pacherco conceded to was an optimistic assumption that Zimbabwe’s situation will improve one day, and that as neighbours we will need to co-operate and work together on various issues.”