The Zimbabwean government has rejecte
d calls to expel an estimated 25,000 South Africans living in the country, distancing itself from retaliatory measures despite growing concerns over xenophobia targeting Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa.
The issue was raised during a parliamentary debate on the increasing number of Zimbabweans returning home from South Africa, where foreign nationals have continued to face anti-immigrant sentiment and recurring xenophobic attacks.
Responding to the debate, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Zimbabwe would not retaliate by targeting South Africans legally residing in the country.
He told Parliament that the government remains committed to welcoming foreign nationals who are lawfully in Zimbabwe, stressing that the country’s response would be guided by the African principle of Ubuntu.
“We do not have a policy of chasing away visitors,” Mr. Ziyambi stated.
His remarks come amid renewed concerns over xenophobic tensions in South Africa, where foreign nationals have frequently been blamed for crime, unemployment and pressure on public services, leading to calls for mass deportations and, in some cases, violent attacks.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora disclosed that the Zimbabwean government has screened more than 99,000 Zimbabweans returning from South Africa for communicable diseases at border entry points.
He added that returnees suffering from chronic medical conditions have been linked to healthcare facilities to ensure they continue receiving the medical treatment they require.
Zimbabwe’s decision not to retaliate against South Africans underscores the government’s commitment to protecting legally resident foreign nationals while promoting peaceful coexistence, even as migration and xenophobia continue to influence relations between South Africa and other African countries.
