SOUTH AFRICA: Displaced Zimbabweans and other refugees give Tsvangirai a rousing welcome

Record ID: 455242

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Displaced Zimbabweans and other refugees give Tsvangirai a rousing welcome
  • Date: 22nd May 2008
  • Summary: (W3) REIGER PARK, JOHANNESBURG (MAY 22, 2008) (REUTERS) DISPLACED PEOPLE STANDING IN QUEUE YOUNG BOY HOLDING MAN'S HAND CLOSE UP OF YOUNG BOY'S HAND
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAE8PS7DS9MVS64TLAOIR2AUL56
  • Story Text: MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says on Thursday (May 22) he will return to Zimbabwe and work to end the political crisis that has caused millions to flee the country.
    Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday (May 22) he would return to his country on Saturday (May 24), and work to end the political crisis that has caused millions to flee the country. He visited Zimbabwean refugees, in the town of Alexander who have fled South Africa's xenophobic violence which has killed 42 people in the past 11 days.

    "But let me say this i say this with whole heart we are Africans we are being divided by artificial barriers but we are the members of the same family. There is no reason why a brother should hate another brother. What we should be doing is to find a solution so that those who can find jobs and food back home do not have to come and extend their unwelcome here. So I am hoping that we are able to solve the crisis that we face back home," said Tsvangirai who faces President Robert Mugabe in a run-off presidential vote on June 27.
    Zimbabweans hope the June poll will help end political and economic turmoil which has brought 165,000 percent inflation, 80 percent unemployment, chronic food and fuel shortages and sent a flood of refugees to neighbouring countries. Tsvangirai blamed the crisis for forcing many Zimbabweans to emigrate to neighbouring countries.

    "The cause of this crisis is none other than our political situation back home," said Tsvangirai, standing on a wooden table in a police station's car park where a couple of hundred African immigrants have sought refuge. Tsvangirai said the MDC would try to arrange transport for Zimbabweans who want to return to their country.
    Zimbabweans fled economic collapse at home and the violent political stand-off there since the March elections, but their presence in South Africa has prompted a backlash from poor shantytown dwellers, who accuse them of stealing jobs and fuelling crime.

    "Today I am very funny when I see my brothers massacre each other. That is not acceptable as our president say that, Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki, we do not accept that. They knew very well that in Zimbabwe there is a crisis, these young Zimbabweans when they are here is not what they like you to understood," said a Zimbabwean immigrant, Simon Ndlovu.
    Tsvangirai won the first round of voting, but not by enough votes to avoid a second round against President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly three decades.
    The biggest group of immigrants come from Zimbabwe. An estimated three million have fled economic collapse at home.

    "We want our life, only that. Even if we mind about what happened, ah, there's no where to go because this situation where does it come from so even that we know this is not our country so we can't just do anything but so long we are alive as you see us. If it's so much better, we can go back to our countries," said a Zimbabwean immigrant, Marvellous Osu.
    More than 10,000 Mozambicans have fled home from South Africa to escape xenophobic attacks that have killed at least 42 people, officials in the neighbouring country said on Wednesday.
    Air force helicopters were deployed to back up South African police in Johannesburg's Alexandra township after President Thabo Mbeki called for army intervention to help end unrest that has threatened to destabilise Africa's largest economy.
    A top leader of the ruling ANC criticised police for reacting too slowly to 11 days of attacks on African migrants, which have driven at least 15,000 people from their homes and prompted thousands to return to their countries.
    Mozambique's Deputy Immigration Director Leonardo Boby told Reuters in Maputo that he predicted more returning to his country if the violence doesn't stop in South Africa.
    The attacks on African migrants have increased political instability at a time of power shortages and disaffection over Mbeki's pro-business policies.
    Soaring food and fuel prices helped push tensions to breaking point. The South African currency fell sharply earlier this week on the back of the violence.
    The rand was slightly firmer on Thursday at 7.7235 to the U.S. dollar.
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