South Africans fearful as Zimbabwean exiles flood into villages

By Tererai Karimakwenda
26 September 2005

NEWS 24 in South Africa reports that the influx of Zimbabwean economic refugees is causing fear and concern among villagers in the rural areas in Limpopo. The area has been overwhelmed by hordes of immigrants seeking work and food. According to the report, an investigation by City Press revealed that villagers in many parts of the province have opened up their hearts and homes to the refugees, but now fear that they are being swamped.
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in South Africa has reportedly commissioned an audit to establish the extent of the problem. NIA boss Billy Masetla said it was difficult to estimate the number of immigrants. But to understand just how serious the problem is, in Musina and surrounding areas that have been affected the most, a police spokesperson told News 24 that on the average they arrest about 100 Zimbabweans a day. Residents of Tshivhilwi village said there were about 2 000 Zimbabweans there and recently the issue was discussed at the headman's kraal.
Tim Hughes at The South African Institute of International Affairs said for years South Africa has been receiving the cream of Zimbabwean society - people who were mobile and able to ingrain themselves into society. They had skills and were educated, but now the situation in Zimbabwe has become desperate even for the rural population. And as they go south looking for greener pastures, they are crossing the Limpopo with no cash and no resources. South Africa is going to have to decide how to accommodate them.
At Matangari village, the police were called in to move out immigrants after complaints that they were about to outnumber locals. And at Tshivhilwi, there were concerns that about 200 people had arrived on two consecutive days. In the most serious case, villagers in Madombidzha made a resolution to expel Zimbabweans.
Hughes said South Africa itself has a problem with land scarcity and can barely sustain its own desperate rural population. Given its own background, the country has very liberal laws regarding refugees and will have to decide now how to deal with the Zimbabweans. According to Hughes, the wrong decision would cause serious problems for the government because land is a heated issue in South Africa.
Intelligence boss Masetla said he did not believe the immigrants posed a national security risk at the moment although a few did get involved in criminal activities. He said. "These are people looking for piece jobs and you can see they hope to return home when things get better." Negotiations are reportedly under way with Zimbabwe to scrap visa requirements.