Holding Hands for Zimbabwe International

Randburg

Johannesburg

Republic of South Africa

2162

URGENT COMMUNIQUE

08 September 2010

From: Zimbabwe Exiles Forum

Holding Hands for Zimbabwe International

Jesuit Refugee Services

People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty

Lawyers for Human Rights

Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa

The South African Human Rights Commission

Representatives of the MDC in South Africa.

To: The Ambassador

Embassy of Zimbabwe

Pretoria

RSA

Dear Sir/Madam

re: Zimbabwe Documentation Project and end of Special Dispensation for Zimbabweans

Be pleased to be informed that at a meeting, held on the 6th September 2010, between the below listed civil society organisations and the Department of Home Affairs (South Africa), the South African authorities clarified their position on the Zimbabwean Documentation Project. According to the Home Affairs Deputy Director General, Jackie Mackay, there is a plan to document Zimbabweans who otherwise would not have qualified for permits in terms of the Immigration laws.

According to Mr Mackay the only requirements would be that the applicant be in possession of a passport and must have been in South Africa on or before the 31st May 2010. Further it was stated that the implementation of the project is to commence within the next two weeks.

The above referred organizations are, in many ways, primarily concerned with issues relevant to and affecting Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa. In the implementation of the Zimbabwe Documentation Project, it will be necessary for these organizations to assist and/or advise Zimbabwean nationals on the issue.

It is in light of the above that we hereby seek an urgent meeting with the Zimbabwean authorities so that we may clarify some issues which the South African authorities were not privy to, as the said can only be clarified by the Zimbabwe government. We propose that we meet anytime this week or no later than the 17th of September 2010, prior to the implementation of the project.

For further information please contact:

1. Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, Lawyers for Human Rights on 084 514 8039/ +27 (0) 11 339 1960

2. Braam Hanekom, PASSOP, 0832561140 / +27 (0) 21 762 4638

3. Sabelo Sibanda, Holding Hands for Zimbabwe International, 074 634 3761 / +00 263 912 224 492

4. Gabriel Shumba, Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, 072 639 3795

5. Sibanengi Dube, MDC South Africa, 076 323 3723