The majority of those who have lived in the neighbouring country for more than five years, especially those from Matabeleland, use South African national registration documents and passports that were fraudulently obtained by either misrepresenting facts with the assistance of some locals, or paying officials at the Home Affairs offices. In December, the SA Home Affairs Ministry launched a crackdown and confiscated hundreds of such documents, especially at the Beitbridge border post. South African home affairs officials revealed this week that their government was considering conditional amnesty, after meetings with MDC-M (SA) officials Jabulani Mkhwananzi Khumbulani Moyo and Ngqabutho Dube.
Government might grant conditional amnesty to those Zimbabweans that are willing to come forward and help us root corruption in the department, said a Home Affairs official who cannot be named. In return, they will be required to surrender their fraudulent documents and tell the officials where and how they obtained them so that those responsible can be arrested. The Zimbabweans, who will in turn be given work permits, should also be prepared to sign sworn affidavits that they will testify in court against corrupt officials. Dube confirmed having heard about the conditional amnesty, but said that his party was still negotiating with the South Africans for blanket amnesty with no strings attached. We feel that the issue of people having to report on those who linked them might create more problems, as some may falsify facts to settle grudges. Also, they might not come forward for fear of being made to go testify in court.
He called on anyone affected to visit the MDC offices in Braamfontein, so that we get the correct data of how many people have been affected and get their guarantee that if this amnesty is granted, they are ready to come forward. We are not representing MDC supporters, but all Zimbabweans who have been caught in this web. MDC office, 505 at number 87 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, Tel: 083 616 4990.
Post published in: News