MDCs pledge support to returning Zims

“Our role as government will be to create and encourage this ethos and to facilitate the return of our exiles. This will include assistance to those who might have lost their personal documents such as identity and travel documents.

“Returnees will also be assisted to regain lost livelihood. It is an undisputed responsibility of any government to make it possible for all citizens to enjoy full residency and citizenship,” said Nhlanhla Dube, the MDC spokesperson.

He said millions of Zimbabweans were forced to take flight as they felt targeted by violence and economic hardships due to bad governance. A significant number were skilled people who could play a crucial role in turning the economy around in future.

“Millions of our countrymen and woman left the country as their lives were endangered by politically intolerant people. True national healing will convince those who fled that there is no longer anything to fear if they return home,” said Dube.

He said his party had always insisted that a future Zimbabwe would have to go through a process of honest truth telling and national healing as a tool for lasting peace and national unity.

The party has no doubt that when genuine peace prevails and the national economy starts to create jobs and opportunities, exiles will fall over each other as they return home, he said. “The home coming of skilled exiles and others bequeathed with different talents will be healthy for the country in many respects.

“Naturally people will respond positively to sustainable changes in situations from which they fled. A new ethos of espousing respect of all citizens, equality and freedom will generate an equal desire to be part of the nation of their birth.”

MDC-T Spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said his party would also provide assistance to exiles willing to return home.

“Now that the new constitution allows dual citizenship, Zimbabweans born in the country who had lost their citizenship will be assisted to claim automatic entrance at the points of entry. Even before the new Zimbabwe comes such people now have the right to vote even though they live outside the country, so should be entitled to cross the border at will.”

Mwonzora said definitely people in the Diaspora would be assisted to return home when time comes.

“As government we should start by putting in place instruments which will enable exiles to vote in coming elections before we talk of their repatriation.”