Cephas Shava
MWENEZI –
A group of Zimbabweans resident in the South African Town of George in the
Western Cape province are desperately looking for help to be repatriated back
home, saying their host country’s extension of the lockdown was driving them to
the brink of starvation.
A group of Zimbabweans resident in the South African Town of George in the
Western Cape province are desperately looking for help to be repatriated back
home, saying their host country’s extension of the lockdown was driving them to
the brink of starvation.
On
April 09, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an extension of the
lockdown by a further two weeks until the end of April.
April 09, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an extension of the
lockdown by a further two weeks until the end of April.
This
has translated to enormous economic difficulty for citizen and foreigner alike,
with the situation even direr for foreigners who live hand to mouth on a daily
basis, with no job security and social security protection.
has translated to enormous economic difficulty for citizen and foreigner alike,
with the situation even direr for foreigners who live hand to mouth on a daily
basis, with no job security and social security protection.
“Here
in George, the people I know who desperately need to go home add up to 24. We had
convinced ourselves that we could manage for 21 days but the extension has
turned everything upside down. If we remain stuck, here we are definitely going
to die of hunger. It’s better for this situation to prevail while we are in our
home country.
in George, the people I know who desperately need to go home add up to 24. We had
convinced ourselves that we could manage for 21 days but the extension has
turned everything upside down. If we remain stuck, here we are definitely going
to die of hunger. It’s better for this situation to prevail while we are in our
home country.
“We
went to seek help at Thembalethu Police Station but they laughed us away and
mocked us. We had expected them to help us get travelling passes so we could
travel back to Zimbabwe.
went to seek help at Thembalethu Police Station but they laughed us away and
mocked us. We had expected them to help us get travelling passes so we could
travel back to Zimbabwe.
“On
many occasions, we called the Zimbabwean consulate in Cape Town but nobody
picked the calls,” said Respect Majoni who contacted TellZim on behalf of his
group.
many occasions, we called the Zimbabwean consulate in Cape Town but nobody
picked the calls,” said Respect Majoni who contacted TellZim on behalf of his
group.
He
said the group consisted of people from Mwenezi, Mhondoro and Beatrice.
said the group consisted of people from Mwenezi, Mhondoro and Beatrice.
“The
little food that we have is fast running out and we don’t see how we will be
able to survive this lockdown. We need to come back home; we are a humanitarian
case. Our government should help us,” said Majoni.
little food that we have is fast running out and we don’t see how we will be
able to survive this lockdown. We need to come back home; we are a humanitarian
case. Our government should help us,” said Majoni.
South
Africa, which is the hardest hit country in Africa, has implemented one of the
toughest lockdown regime in the world, with blanket bans almost all travel.
Africa, which is the hardest hit country in Africa, has implemented one of the
toughest lockdown regime in the world, with blanket bans almost all travel.
There
is also a strict alcohol and cigarette sales ban.
is also a strict alcohol and cigarette sales ban.
