5 Zimbabwean refugees dead, 36 injured in SA border accident

By Tererai Karimakwenda
18 February, 2008

We received a sad and tragic report from the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum
(ZEF) in South Africa on Monday, that 5 deportees died and 36 were injured in an accident while they were in transit on Saturday. The accident occurred between Musina and Beitbridge and it involved a truck owned by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, which was transporting mainly women refugees back to Zimbabwe. The 36 injured were admitted to a hospital in Musina. Most were treated and released, except for 6 women and two children who are still in hospital.

ZEF director Gabriel Shumba said the deceased have not been identified and their relatives have still not been informed. Shumba said that he had been at the border at Beitbridge with other ZEF officials from Thursday until Friday. They were monitoring reports of an increased military presence at the border and in Musina. The accident happened a day after they left. Details of the accident were provided to ZEF by their partner organization, the Musina Legal Advice Center.

Shumba said he noticed that there was an increased number of South African soldiers at the border. They normally do not get involved in rounding up refugees, but according to Shumba they were making arrests. He described the town of Musina as “a hive of activity” as many more people are streaming into South Africa.

Shumba believes the sudden increase is related to the March 29th elections in Zimbabwe. He said it also appears the South Africa government is nervous about an increased outpouring of refugees from Zimbabwe, due to the violence that usually comes with elections.

The ZEF criticized South African immigration officials at the border for failing to advise Zimbabweans applying for asylum about their rights. Shumba said he has been involved in several cases where the applicants had been denied asylum at the border without being informed that they had a 14-day period to apply before being sent back to Zimbabwe.

According to Shumba the treatment of Zimbabwean refugees by South African authorities is “inhuman.” He said he also found it “very callous” that to date, no officials from the South African government had offered any statements of sympathy to the families of the deceased.

The incident highlights the difficult plight Zimbabwean refugees continue to face in South Africa. Last month South African police raided a church shelter in Johannesburg late at night, arresting 1,500 refugees, mostly Zimbabweans. The police were accused of using excessive force during the raid and forcing arrested victims to pay bribes for their freedom. As we reported, an independent investigation is underway. There have also been several protests at the South African Embassy demanding better treatment of refugees.

Shumba urged all Zimbabweans in the diaspora who can go home to vote on March 29th to make sure that they do so. He said his organization and many others are engaged in educating Zimbabweans about the importance of going home to vote. This is part of the “Get out the Vote Campaign” launched in Johannesburg last week.