Zimbabwe makes first practical move to evacuate citizens from South Africa

dimeji akinloye

April 18, 2015 10:27 AM

Zimbabwe becomes the first African country to make practical move in the evacuation of its nationals from South Africa since the xenophobic attacks started in Durban

The country’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Isaac Moyo, has said plans are in motion to evacuate about 1,000 Zimbabweans living in South Africa.

"Identification and processing of repatriation documents has already been done. It is very sad. Most people do not have any documentation. They don't have any clothes apart from what they are wearing. Many of them left all their clothes and property behind. We are documenting people. This process means that we are giving them some sort of documentation to use upon returning to Zimbabwe. We are organising some buses to take them from Durban to Beit Bridge (the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe). Then they will be taken from Beit Bridge to their home provinces. We would want (the departure) to be as soon as possible. People are currently living in the most difficult conditions," Moyo told the state-owned Chronicle newspaper.

The Nigerian government had said earlier this week that it will evacuate Nigerians resident in South Africa if the violent attacks worsen.

Kenya, Mozambique and Malawi have also announced they would help their citizens return home.

dimeji akinloye