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Mounting of roadblocks on Beitbridge-Johannesburg road
Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF)
November 16, 2006

The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) is deeply concerned by reports of the proposed mounting of eight road blocks along the highway between Beitbridge and Johannesburg. According to sources the Zimbabwean Central Intelligence Organisation (C.I.O) will join forces with the South African Police Service(SAPS) and the Scorpions in a bid to control illegal immigration from Zimbabwe into South Africa. The operation is said to be scheduled to begin on 30 January 2007.

If it materialises, this development would be most unwelcome as it will be a serious threat to the well-being of Zimbabwean asylum-seekers in South Africa. Firstly, the presence of C.I.O operatives in South Africa exposes many Zimbabweans who fled torture and political persecution at home to the very danger that they were fleeing from. Secondly, this move makes it possible for the Mugabe government to physically and materially eliminate and undermine the strong opposition to its rule which has been organised by displaced Zimbabweans based in South Africa. Many pro-democracy and human rights activists and their organisations working on the Zimbabwean situation from South Africa will also face strict censorship and might even close down. What this unholy alliance will do in effect is to stifle the relatively democratic space to freely express themselves that Zimbabweans find in South Africa. There have already been disturbing reports of surveillance from CIO operatives that clandestinely monitoring the activities of human rights and opposition activists in South Africa and Botswana.

Commenting on this latest piece of news, ZEF Executive Director Gabriel Shumba said;

"If this turns out to be true, which I hope it is not, it would confirm beyond doubt what we have always said, that Mbeki and Mugabe lie under the same blanket. The ‘quiet diplomacy’ policy of the South African government is nothing but a veiled abdication of the duty to protect innocent citizens in favour of protecting each other by African rulers. The ANC feels obligated to assist ZANU(PF) for old times’sake"

ZEF will further investigate this report and make more direct efforts to persuade the South African government to reconsider before partnering with Zimbabwean authorities on such actions.

Gabriel Shumba
Executive Director and Human Rights Lawyer

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