Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Criticizes South Africa’s Approach to Migration Crisis

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has attributed the ongoing migration crisis to South Africa’s lenient approach to Zimbabwe’s political and economic instability.

This comes amid rising xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Recent reports revealed that over 3,000 Malawians, including hundreds of children, are currently residing in an open field in Durban following threats and violence targeting immigrants.

Nigeria has repatriated 260 citizens in the first phase of efforts to evacuate its nationals, while Ghana, Mozambique, and Malawi have carried out similar repatriation operations in recent weeks.

Zimbabweans, as the largest migrant community in South Africa, face the greatest challenges amid the ongoing crisis.

The South African government has pledged to implement necessary measures to prevent further violence against foreign nationals.

However, ZCTU Acting Secretary General Runesu Dzimiri criticized South Africa’s delayed response to Zimbabwe’s systemic issues, arguing that this inaction has exacerbated migration flows.

“While we commend Zimbabwe’s diplomatic engagement with South Africa, addressing the root causes requires internal economic reforms. South Africa must also be transparent about Zimbabwe’s political and economic trajectory to effectively curb irregular migration,” Dzimiri stated.

“Without meaningful job opportunities, millions of Zimbabweans will continue to face vulnerability abroad,” he added.

Dzimiri emphasized that the Zimbabwean government has a constitutional and moral responsibility to protect citizens by resolving the political and economic issues driving mass emigration.

He noted that traditional intergovernmental diplomacy is insufficient to counteract initiatives like ‘Operation Dudula’ and similar movements.

“Leaders in power often remain disconnected from the real-world consequences of their governance. Ordinary citizens bear the cost of hyperinflation, corruption, and deteriorating infrastructure, which directly fuel mass migration,” Dzimiri said.

The ZCTU leader called for urgent humanitarian support, including legal aid, healthcare, and repatriation assistance, through a coordinated national response mechanism.

Source link