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Stir The Pot

Paidamoyo Muzulu

ZIMBABWE's general elections are looming large on the horizon. Political parties have started rolling down their candidate selection processes. In the mix was South Africa threatening to send back home 180 000 Zimbabwe Exempt Permit (ZEP) holders by end of June 2023, an action that could have swayed the election results one way or another.

According to ZimStat and StatSA, about one million Zimbabwean immigrants are in South Africa. In fact, Zimbabwe has the highest number of African migrants in South Africa. It is also an acknowledged fact that of the million migrants, only 200 000 are registered, meaning a mammoth 80% Zimbabwe migrants in that country are there illegally.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the South African economic fortunes. Many companies scaled down their operations or totally closed shop, thus throwing hundreds of thousands of workers to join the ranks of the unemployed. Naturally, this causes instability and migration becomes a political and electoral issue.

South African opposition political parties veered to the right and increased political populism posturing. Migration became a topical issue and affected the 2021 local government elections. The ruling ANC party was wiped out of metropolitan areas, turning it into a rural party. Many political pundits project that for the first time since 1994, the ANC national vote will dip below 50%, thus forcing it into a coalition arrangement post the 2024 general elections.

Cases of Afrophobia are on the rise in South Africa. Zimbabwe migrants are the main target. It should be remembered that South Africa has experienced two waves of xenophobic attacks in the past decade. And this time, it could be worse especially with grassroots organisations like Operation Dudula in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal provinces agitating

Editorial & Opinion

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2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://alphamedia.pressreader.com/article/281616719631944

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