Gabriel Shumba, the executive director of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) and spokesperson of a stakeholder forum that has been meeting the South African government to halt the deportations, said South Africa’s decision was badly-timed as the socio-political problems that led to the country suspending the deportations two years ago still existed.
Last week, South Africa outlined plans to deport Zimbabwean nationals living illegally in the country. This followed the elapse of a 31 July deadline South Africa had set for Zimbabweans to regularize their stay south of the Limpopo.
Shumba slammed the deportations, saying it had left known and perceived opponents of the Mugabe regime, who had sought sanctuary here, vulnerable to human rights violations once they were returned to Zimbabwe.
Human rights violations targeting known and perceived supporters of President Robert Mugabe have continued incessantly ahead of the referendum on a new constitution and subsequent elections whose dates have not been set.
The violations against the opposition supporters and officials evoke memories of the 2008 shambolic election that cost hundreds of opposition supporters their lives at the hands of the military and Zanu (PF) supporters after Mugabe officially lost his first election since attaining power in 1980.
Post published in: Politics