- Zimbabweans are now free to travel into South Africa without the need to observe the strict visa requirements as has been the case with the recent influx of both humanitarian and economic refugees in the country.
The South Africa officials announced today that the country had lifted visa restrictions against Zimbabwean citizens visiting the country for a period of 90 days.
The announcement, according to the state agency, was made shortly after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and the two Zimbabwean joint ministers of Home Affairs.
The announcement said Zimbabwean citizens could now enjoy similar status like all other South African neighbours such as Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mauritius.
The report said the MoU signed by both countries was aimed at facilitating the legal movement of people between the two neighbours and in furtherance of the SADC Protocol on Facilitation of Movement.
South Africa has recently come under fire from human rights groups on the way that Zimbabwean refugees and other foreigners were treated by officials. Last year xenophobic attacks pushed thousands of foreigners from their homes into temporary settlements, in a country that is not only the economic hub of the region and the continent, but has also become a new hope for many seeking Africans, since the demise of apartheid.
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