Parliament Rejects MP's Call to Expel South Africans from Zimbabwe

By Southerton Business Times | Harare

A proposal by Zaka South legislator Clemence Chiduwa that Zimbabwe should expel South African nationals in retaliation for the treatment of Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa was ruled out of order in the National Assembly on Wednesday. The remarks came during Question Time as Members of Parliament debated the welfare and reintegration of thousands of Zimbabweans returning from South Africa following months of anti-immigrant protests and deportations.

Addressing Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who was representing the Leader of Government Business, Chiduwa questioned whether Zimbabwe should adopt a policy of diplomatic reciprocity.

"In Zimbabwe at the moment, we have got at least 25,000 South Africans. In the spirit of diplomatic reciprocity, is there not a need for us to chase South Africans back to South Africa?" Chiduwa asked.

Temporary Speaker of the National Assembly Joseph Tshuma immediately ruled the question out of order before the minister could respond.

"I will not allow that line of questioning in this House, Hon. Chiduwa," Tshuma said.

Despite objections from some legislators, Tshuma maintained that Zimbabwe should not promote hostility towards foreign nationals.

"I will allow the minister to respond but we do not, as a people, have that kind of attitude as Zimbabweans, so we will not allow that."

Responding to the broader issue, Ziyambi rejected any suggestion that Zimbabwe would retaliate against South African nationals living in the country.

"As Zimbabweans, we are friends with everyone. Our culture dictates that if our children visit and they want to come back, we duly take them back. We do not have a policy of chasing away visitors. We have never had that," he said.

The minister said Zimbabwe's immigration policy remains guided by the principles of Ubuntu, peaceful coexistence and regional solidarity.

He recalled President Emmerson Mnangagwa's 2021/2022 directive instructing the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to regularise undocumented long-term residents by facilitating access to identity documents.

"He even went further and I recall that in Cabinet, he said, if they don't have names, give them yours, let all of them be Kazembe," Ziyambi said, referring to Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe.

He added that Zimbabwe would continue to welcome South Africans and other foreign nationals whose immigration documentation complies with the law.

"We maintain our ubuntu. We do not want to be dragged into fights on borders that were created by people who are not us and deny our relatives, whether they are in Zambia, Malawi or Botswana," he said.

The exchange comes as Parliament continues discussing the return and reintegration of Zimbabweans affected by anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa. Government has previously indicated that more than 100,000 Zimbabweans have returned home since anti-immigrant protests escalated in May, prompting renewed calls for support programmes to assist returnees.

Several MPs also raised concerns over reports of attacks on Zimbabwean nationals, destruction of property and loss of livelihoods in South Africa, urging the two governments to strengthen bilateral engagement on migration, the protection of migrants and orderly repatriation.

Clemence Chiduwa