Katherine Harris, regional officer for mixed migration based at the UNHCR Pretoria office, told The Zimbabwean that high-level discussions with the SA Government were in progress amid threats of deportation for millions who have fled President Robert Mugabe's reign of terror over the past three decades.
"It's a very difficult situation. We have dialogue with the Department of Foreign Affairs and encourage them to allow refugees to seek asylum. We hope South Africa signs third country agreements. We have meetings with them regularly and they said they are negotiating," Harris said.
South Africa has the largest number of exiled Zimbabweans, with unofficial estimates placing them at between three and four million. Several incentive schemes offered by the SA Government since 2009 to force Zimbabweans to register as refugees and migrant workers have failed to resolve the problem. SA has now said it will deport undocumented immigrants as soon as they are caught.
The UN, however, is working on plans to ensure that there are no forcible removals to Zimbabwe.
Post published in: Politics