The Zimbabwe Community in South Africa has welcomed the move by the South African government to open up the economy under level 3 as it allows immigrants in that country to resume work.
On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country will move level 3 of the Covid-19 lockdown on June 1 which will see the opening up of the economy and several restrictions being removed.
The lockdown left a lot of immigrants stranded due to loss of income.
In an interview with CITE, Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena said level 3 will see most people resuming work.
“Since the introduction of lockdown our people have been living on handouts which are not easy to get, a lot of people are desperate out there for food so the opening up of the economy and in the informal sector means that people will now be able to go back to work,” he said.
An estimated 4 000 Zimbabweans were reported to have registered with the Zimbabwean embassy for food aid following the prolonged lockdown.
However, Mabhena said those in the hospitality industry will have to wait a little longer.
He also lamented the continued closure of the border as most people rely on cross border trading.
“We also note that the border will not be open for daily use as has been the norm, only to send goods and repatriate those that want to return home, this of cause means that as long as the border remains closed those that are in the informal sector especially in Zimbabwe who normally cross the border to buy goods for resell back home will not be able under level 3 to do so,” he said.
