In the wake of growing anti-foreigners’ sentiments in South Africa, ZAPU has created a task force to look into the immigration crisis in the neighbouring country.
The task force is supposed to assess the situation in South Africa, engage stakeholders and come up with possible ways of solving the crisis.
ZAPU and the ANC, the ruling party in South Africa, used to be close as their military armies ZPRA and Umkhonto weSizwe shared trenches during the two countries’ liberation struggles.
In an interview with CITE, ZAPU Secretary-General, Mthulisi Hanana confirmed the development, saying the party president, Sibangilizwe Nkomo has appointed an eight-member presidential task force.
“In the wake of the stance by the South African Government not to renew the Zimbabwe permits, our people have become vulnerable in South Africa as they face an uncertain future. We have noticed growing anti foreigners’ sentiments and reports of sporadic xenophobic attacks targeted at our people. As a party we are worried about the safety of Zimbabweans in South Africa,” he said.
Read: https://cite.org.zw/zim-and-sa-should-build-on-historical-ties-to-defeat-xenophobia%ef%bf%bc/
Hanana said the ZAPU presidential task force was supposed to assess the situation in South Africa, develop a party position on the matter and develop intervention mechanisms.
“The task force must engage relevant stakeholders such as political leadership in South Africa, the South African government, the ruling ANC, opposition parties the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Democratic Alliance (DA), Operation Dudula leaders, Zimbabweans in South Africa and many others in the hope of finding an amicable and lasting solution,” said the secretary-general.
“The task force is also expected to lobby Regional and Sub-Regional groups to intervene and(or) mediate, create a platform where members can report incidents and where possible, develop rapid response mechanisms.”
The ZAPU SG said the eight-member task force would be chaired by the party’s Deputy Secretary International Relations (African Affairs), Sithembile Dabengwa.
“The task force will after consultations, develop a party position, terms of engagement and a proposed implementation matrix. At this stage, the Taskforce is ready to start engaging stakeholders beginning Monday April 4. 2022. The taskforce chairperson’s contact number is +26772304806 and her email: sithembiledd@gmail.com. We wish them well as they engage and seek a solution for our people who are in South Africa,” Hanana said.
