The Zimbabwean government has rejected calls to expel an estimated 25,000 South Africans living in the country, distancing itself from retaliatory measures amid rising concerns over xenophobia in South Africa.
The issue was raised during a parliamentary debate on the growing number of Zimbabweans returning home from South Africa, where migrants have increasingly faced anti-foreigner sentiment and periodic xenophobic attacks.
Responding to the debate, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Zimbabwe would not respond by targeting South Africans residing in the country.
He told Parliament that the government would continue to welcome foreign nationals who are legally in Zimbabwe, stressing that the country’s approach would be guided by the principle of Ubuntu.
“We do not have a policy of chasing away visitors,” Ziyambi said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of recurring xenophobic tensions in South Africa, where foreign nationals have at times been blamed for crime, unemployment and pressure on public services, leading to calls for mass deportations and occasional violent attacks.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora said the government has screened more than 99,000 Zimbabweans returning from South Africa for communicable diseases at border posts.
He added that returnees living with chronic medical conditions have been linked to healthcare services to ensure they continue receiving treatment.
Zimbabwe’s decision not to retaliate against South Africans reflects its commitment to protecting legally resident foreign nationals, even as migration and xenophobia continue to shape relations between South Africa and other African Countries.
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