HARARE -- The Zimbabwean government working with United Nation (UN) agencies has set up a centre at Beitbridge to assist victims of xenophobic violence during and after the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, The Zimbabwean has learnt.There are fears that mobs of xenophobic South Africans will launch attacks against foreigners once the World Cup is over in a repeat of similar attacks that left at least 60 black African immigrants in South Africa dead and thousands of others without shelter after their homes were destroyed in the violence.
“In an effort to assist possible survivors of violence during and after the FIFA World
Cup, a safe-space for survivors of violence has been established at Beitbridge border post,” said the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in a report published this week.
The report added: “A task force, led by the government of Zimbabwe, UNDSS and UNICEF, has been established to respond to needs of possible deported or returning unaccompanied minors following the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”
The report said a task force had been set up and a contingency plan and work plan had been developed to deal with the expected crisis.
The task force meets weekly and includes ICRC, IOM, UNDSS, UNICEF, UNOCHA, Save the Children and the Protection cluster coordinator.
Millions of Zimbabweans have fled into neighbouring countries, especially South Africa to escape Robert Mugabe’s repression and economic collapse blamed on his controversial policies.
Post published in: Politics