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    July 14, 2011

Zimbabwe's Exiled Community Struggles in South Africa

   Nico Colombant | Johannesburg
   Zimbabwean refugees who have fled political violence and economic woes
   in Zimbabwe at the central Methodist church in Johannesburg where they
   have sought refuge (2008 file photo)
   Photo: AP
   Zimbabwean refugees who have fled political violence and economic woes
   in Zimbabwe at the central Methodist church in Johannesburg where they
   have sought refuge (2008 file photo)

   Zimbabwe's growing exile community in South Africa is struggling with
   many issues, such as bureaucratic hassles, losing their rights in their
   home country and a lack of opportunities in their new country.
   There is shouting and jostling, as hundreds of Zimbabweans wait inside
   the compound of South Africa's Department of Home Affairs in an attempt
   to get or renew their asylum papers.
   Outside, Samuel Bango feels lucky because he finally got his own papers
   renewed.
   He says he left neighboring Zimbabwe because he could not feed his
   family anymore as inflation and political violence became unbearable.
   Austin Mamvura explains it took three weeks for him to get his own
   asylum papers. He tries to get by in South Africa by selling cookies to
   other Zimbabweans waiting in line.
   Many Zimbabweans say that in addition to the bureaucratic hassles, they
   face discrimination in public places, and the constant threat of
   xenophobic violence. More than 60 Zimbabweans were killed in a wave of
   anti-immigrant attacks in 2008, and more similar killings have since
   been reported.
   At human rights offices in Pretoria, Zimbabwean lawyer Gabriel Shumba
   says it is not just in South Africa where his fellow nationals feel at
   a loss. He feels frustrated exiled Zimbabweans cannot more easily help
   improve the situation in their own country.
   "In terms of Zimbabwe's political realities, the deliberate sidelining
   or disenfranchisement of people who have been forced to flee their
   country in particular for national processes such as the constitutional
   reform exercise, such as national healing issues, such as even
   elections," said Shumba. "There are over four millions Zimbabweans who
   are now currently in exile, who are people who are unable to vote for a
   new government in their own country."
   Other exiled Zimbabweans are concerned about bare survival.
   Unemployed, homeless and hungry, they have found refuge at the Central
   Methodist Church in a noisy section of downtown Johannesburg.
   Offices have been converted into cramped quarters, where families
   huddle together.
   The church's lobby has been converted into a market area and also a
   place to dry laundry.
   One of the jobless living here, Isaac Matanda, was previously a local
   government administrator in Zimbabwe. He fled by foot last year because
   he feared for his life due to his opposition political activities.
   "Things have not been so comfortable to date, because I am still in
   search despite that I have got high qualifications," said Matanda. "I
   am trying to run around."
   More Zimbabweans have been streaming into South Africa recently, amid
   uncertainty over elections to be held possibly this year, incessantly
   high inflation and the continued arrests of opposition leaders and
   activists in their country.
   Conservative estimates put the number of Zimbabweans in South Africa at
   1.5 million, with more than 300,000 among them seeking asylum.
   At night before bedtime, exiled Zimbabweans come together to sing and
   pray for better days.
   The man behind the church's generosity is Bishop Paul Verryn.
   "We deal with almost every possible human difficulty that you possibly
   can," said Bishop Verryn. "There are relationship problems, there is
   violence, there is sometimes alcohol, it is a problem in the building.
   It is not smooth sailing and there are not any easy and quick answers."
   Bishop Verryn gives nightly sermons where he also advertises available
   jobs in South Africa which he hears about.
   The services are well attended. Exiled Zimbabweans say they are a
   moment of reprieve in turbulent and desolate times away from home.
   At the end of the service, when the bishop asks who wants special
   prayers and a sprinkle with holy water, dozens of adults rush forward
   with their children, hoping they will have a better life eventually,
   wherever that may be.

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