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Illegal immigrants, crime to top Zim-SA talks
ZimOnline
November 23, 2006

http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=506

VICTORIA FALLS - The influx of illegal Zimbabwean immigrants and co-operation in combating cross-border criminal activities will top the agenda when defence and security ministers from Zimbabwe and South Africa converge here for a two-day meeting to discuss co-operation.

The second seating of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security takes place in this resort town starting today and ends tomorrow.

Sources told ZimOnline yesterday that discussions would mainly focus on how the neighbours could co-operate in controlling the flow of Zimbabweans clandestinely crossing into South Africa. The two sides would also discuss alleged ill-treatment by Pretoria authorities of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, according to sources.

"The Zimbabweans would want assurances that the safety and integrity of their citizens are guaranteed against the backdrop of the reported cases of abuse at the hands of South Africa law enforcement agents," said an official from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Defence who spoke on condition he was not named.

Thousands of Zimbabweans flock into South Africa each day to escape escalating poverty and hunger in their homeland.

Due to the tight visa requirements on the South African side, the bulk of the immigrants often do not clear immigration formalities and usually swim across the crocodile-infested Limpopo River bordering the two countries to enter South Africa.

A sizeable number of them are caught and sent back to Zimbabwe but many say South African police ill-treat and sometimes torture them before deporting them.

While on the other hand the lucky Zimbabweans to make it to the interior of South Africa, mostly Johannesburg and Pretoria, are accused of fuelling violent crime there.

No comment was available yesterday on issues to be discussed at the meeting from Sydney Sekeramayi or Didymus Mutasa, Zimbabwe's ministers of Defence and State Security, respectively.

The ministers' meeting was preceded by a session by senior officials from the two neighbours who had been meeting here since Monday.

The officials' session was co-chaired by Richard Ruwodo, acting permanent secretary for the Zimbabwe Ministry of Defence, and his South Africa counterpart January Masilela.

The joint permanent commission between Zimbabwe and South Africa on defence and security was established in 2005 to help the two countries strengthen bilateral relations, stimulate economic growth and guarantee the safety of their citizens. - ZimOnline

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