Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister David Musabayana has urged Zimbabweans who migrated to South Africa in search of jobs over the years to return home claiming that the economy has recovered.
Musabaya said this while responding to Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda (CCC), who wanted to know what the government was doing to protect Zimbabweans experiencing xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Said Musabayana:
The xenophobic attacks in SA against foreigners (Zimbabweans in particular) are not a reflection of South Africa.
Our embassy in that country is engaging with the South African government and its relevant stakeholders to deal with the matter.
As a country, we are focused on protecting our citizens’ interests in that country and elsewhere.
We have cordial relations with South Africa. We will also continue to assist those in need through our consulate in that country.
Recently, SA issued a statement saying what some of the citizens were doing was not a reflection of its government.
What happened was a criminal matter and soon those attacks on our citizens will be over. We have grown the economy and our people can now start to come back.
In fact, very few people will be going to foreign lands for job hunting because Zimbabwe has registered economic growth.
Marondera Central legislator, Caston Mateu (CCC) also called on the Government to approach the Southern African Development Community (SADC) over the matter.
However, Musabaya said Zimbabwe cannot hold South Africa accountable for xenophobia as it is not Pretoria’s policy.
