JOHANNESBURG An organization pushing for the inclusion of diaspora-based Zimbabweans in their countrys next elections this week expressed concern at the way some of those based in neighbouring South Africa had lost touch with events back home.The South Africa-based Movement for Zimbabweans Right to Vote said that Zimbabweans were in the dark about the situation back home, since they fled political persecution and an economic meltdown during the past decade.
Despite the formation of the unity government most political exiles still felt unsafe to return home.
This shows that massive re-education about the current inclusive arrangement and how it works, is needed, said Naison Dzinavatonga.
The Movement will take it upon itself to encourage them to participate in any process that seeks to establish a peaceful and stable Zimbabwe.
Dzinavatonga further revealed that his organisations management committee, led by Zimbabweans, had already held numerous meetings with stakeholders both in Zimbabwe and South Africa about its purposes.
The response has been fantastic, with Zimbabweans living in South Africa hailing the idea as a noble one that should be pursued at all costs. However their main cause of concern is that they still feel it is useless to participate in the betterment of their countrys political situation given the long history of unfair political games played by politicians in Zimbabwe, added Dzinavatonga.
The organisation has established branches in Polokwane, Modjadjiskloof, Tzaneen, Haenertsburg, Marble Hall, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Mafikeng, and Georges Valley and is in the process of establishing more branches, as it seeks to envelop the whole of South Africa with its lobbying.
Our Movement is apolitical and we are a Non-Governmental Organization that falls under the civil groups not a political party. We work with stakeholders that are in the same field with us in terms of the area of focus, he added.
We have enlisted a number of civic groups both here in South Africa and Zimbabwe and are working with some government sections in Zimbabwe. Our biggest challenge is that many people are working in the farms and as such it is very difficult to access them as their employers are somewhat sceptical about our intention and are afraid of losing their labour.
We are however explaining to them the importance of the exercise. Some Zimbabweans also feel that they will lose their jobs if they return home to vote. Even the general logistics to get going is a challenge on its own.
Post published in: News