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Pastors horrified at plight of Zimbabwean immigrants in SA
ZimOnline
August 17, 2005

http://www.zimonline.co.za/headdetail.asp?ID=10387

JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwean pastors have expressed horror at the plight of Zimbabwean immigrants living in South Africa.

Most of the immigrants who fled political and economic hardships from Zimbabwe had virtually jumped "from the frying pan into the fire" because of the squalid conditions they were living under and the failure of South African police to offer them any form of protection against undue harassment, the pastors said.

The pastors are from the Zimbabwe National Pastors Conference (ZNPC), a network of clergy, pastors and priests from around Zimbabwe . They have begun a week long tour to assess the plight of Zimbabweans living in South Africa .

"To say we are horrified by the conditions Zimbabwean immigrants here are living under is a huge understatement," said Reverend Vimbai Mugwidi from the Methodist church who is a spokesperson for the seven pastors.

"It's one thing to read about the plight of the Zimbabweans, many of whom are considered illegal, and totally another to witness their reality with one's own eyes. It is heart- rending," she said.

She said the pastors were hoping that their mission would help in further highlighting the plight of Zimbabwean immigrants around South Africa and draw the attention of South African authorities' and those who can help to their situation.

She said most of the immigrants they had met complained that they could not access formal employment because they could not get the necessary refugee permits.

Unable to get jobs in the formal sector, they were exploited by unscrupulous employers who paid them starvation wages knowing full well that they had no re-course.

Even those with the refugee permits were routinely discriminated against by the South African police.

"We have met Zimbabweans who have been granted the official refugee permits. But their permits are routinely torn apart by the police who round these people up and deposit them at Lindela for deportation despite that they are living here legally" said Mugwidi.

She said they had learnt of the story of a man who died after walking 40 kilometres to his home in Zimbabwe upon being dumped at Beitbridge border post by South African authorities.

While the legal role of authorities in arresting and deporting illegal immigrants could not be denied, South African police were in many cases abusing their powers.

She said cases of sexual abuse of young Zimbabwean girls by South African police were rampant. One 16-year old girl had told the pastors of how she was arrested by police in Hillbrow and detained in the back of a bakkie for the whole day.

They had vowed not to release her until she agreed "to make a plan", meaning to offer them sexual favours.

The pastors said they were hoping to see South African police authorities to protest their handling of Zimbabwean immigrants.

The pastors said they had met people with no homes and with no access to food and any of the basic necessities for survival.

But still these people could not return home because many feared for their safety. The situation was particularly dire for children. Many had fled their homes in Zimbabwe due to economic problems.

Some had even arrived in South Africa with their fleeing parents only to find themselves in the streets after the breaking up of their families mainly due to economic hardships.

Reverend John Chinyowa, who is part of the delegation, said the plight of these children of varying ages was particularly distressing.

He doubted that many of them would ever grow up into becoming responsible adults.

"They need help. It is depressing to look at these children who find themselves in these circumstances because of circumstances beyond their control," said Chinyowa.

Reverend Nicholas Mukaronda of the Anglican Church said South African authorities regularly told Zimbabwean immigrants that they should go back to their country because "it's not at war".

"Yes, Zimbabwe is not at war, but why they cannot understand that Zimbabwe is in major problems is incomprehensible," he said.

The pastors thanked the Methodist Church in Johannesburg for opening its halls to homeless Zimbabweans to sleep overnight as well as offering them food. - ZimOnline

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