“It is time we engaged the South African Police Service and Operation Dudula people to chuck out Zimbabweans who are living comfortably in their flats here in South Africa and force them to join us in marches like this until we find peace in Zimbabwe,” roared Lucky Mulo as he addressed his fellow Zimbabweans on Tuesday morning outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in Tshwane.
Mulo was part of the protesting Zimbabweans who marched to the embassy in protest against, price hike of passport, the state of affairs, political chaos and shenanigans happening in Zimbabwe.
He bemoaned the fact that some of his fellow Zimbabweans were living comfortably in their flats and residential houses here in South Africa and we’re not willing to join them in marches and rallies here in the country to protest against the Zimbabwean situation.
He suggested that the SAPS and members of Dudula would be able to force his fellow countrymen to attend the said political gatherings.
Mulo then expressed satisfaction that there is a Government of National Unity (GNU) as it will make it possible for all South Africans to now see what is actually happening in Zimbabwe.
He emphasised that people are not respected but are treated like trash and if anyone happened to speak ill of the country’s President Munangagwa they get beaten, tortured and ultimately, they are made to disappear.
“75% of Zimbabwean children are not working and they live in fear, 90% of the infrastructure is not in use and our question to Munangagwa is what are you saying about the situation where your people are scattered all over the world in search of a better life and job opportunities,” lamented Convener of Zimbabwean citizens living in South Africa Mandy Chiwashira.
She pointed out that Munangagwa actually betrayed former President Robert Mugabe by iusting him from power and also explained that the SADEC countries didn’t want to recognise Munangagwa as leader of Zimbabwe, but he tricked them through negotiations into accepting him as the country’s president.
Chiwashira revealed that since Munangagwa took overpower in 2017 he has done nothing as there are no jobs and hospitals and no medication in that country, thus compelling even elderly people to come to South Africa to seek jobs and medication.
She said many Zimbabweans trying to cross the Limpopo River die in the river because they want to escape the hardship in Zimbabwe but can’t afford the R5000 they are expected to pay when trying to come to this country.
She pointed out that the vast number of Zimbabweans who are here in South Africa are a burden to the South African economy, pointing out that many people are presently under arrest in Zimbabwe, including a one-year child.
She said learners in Zimbabwe don’t have desks and proper classes and are forced to sit on stones when attending school.
Spokesperson of Zimbabwean citizens living in South Africa Tapshinga Mogore told Tshwane Talks that the march was based on three issues namely: 1. The increase in the price of passport fees.
2. The illegitimacy crisis in the Zimbabwean government.
3. The mass arrest, abduction, torture and killing of those who are opposed to Munangagwa’s government.
“It is shambolic and shameful that SADEC leaders including President Cyril Ramaphosa, will be attending a summit in Zimbabwe yet they are sitting on a report which clearly indicates that the last elections in Zimbabwe, wherein Munangagwa claimed victory, were not legitimate,” lamented Mogore.
EFF Sedibeng Region member Kagiso Nkuna said that the EFF attended the march to stand in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.
“We know that Zimbabwean citizens are faced with many hardships and that it is utterly despicable for South Africans to denounce Zimbabwean people in the basis of race as South Africa was in the same situation under apartheid,” said Nkuna.