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🇿🇼 Zimbabwe /Economy & Trade

Zimbabwean Economy Can Absorb All Citizens Returning from South Africa, Says Official

From AllAfrica Zimbabwe · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Zimbabwe's economy is reportedly strong enough to absorb citizens returning from South Africa, according to Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa.
  • The government is assisting in the repatriation of Zimbabweans facing pressure to leave South Africa by June 30.
  • Mutsvangwa claimed Zimbabwe is creating an "African middle class," while acknowledging high unemployment rates and the informal sector's dominance.

Zimbabwe's economy is performing robustly and possesses the capacity to reintegrate all its citizens currently facing pressure to leave South Africa, stated Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa. He asserted that the Zimbabwean government is actively facilitating the return of its nationals who wish to leave the neighboring country.

We are busy repatriating. I am not sure of the figures but my Ambassador in Pretoria and my Minister of Home Affairs, who does immigration have.

— Christopher MutsvangwaResponding to a question about the number of Zimbabweans being repatriated from South Africa.

Mutsvangwa's comments come amid escalating threats against foreigners in South Africa by vigilante groups, primarily associated with the Zulu ethnic group. These groups have issued warnings and demanded that foreigners leave by June 30, sparking fears of a repeat of the violent xenophobic attacks seen in 2008. This has prompted many Nigerians, Ghanaians, Mozambicans, Ethiopians, Somalis, and Malawians to return to their home countries.

When pressed for figures on repatriation, Mutsvangwa admitted he lacked precise numbers but assured that the ambassador in Pretoria and the Home Affairs minister were handling immigration matters. "Our economy is doing well, we have no particular misgivings about Zimbabweans coming back home because we have the ability to absorb them, because our economy is now doing very well," he said.

Our economy is doing well, we have no particular misgivings about Zimbabweans coming back home because we have the ability to absorb them, because our economy is now doing very well.

— Christopher MutsvangwaAsserting the strength of Zimbabwe's economy to absorb returning citizens.

Estimates suggest between 800,000 and three million Zimbabweans reside illegally in South Africa. The potential return of these individuals could exacerbate Zimbabwe's already high unemployment rate, with over 80% of its workforce engaged in the informal sector. Mutsvangwa added, "We are creating a genuine African middle class not a professional middle class like you have here." Political pressure is mounting, with former South African President Jacob Zuma's MK party indicating support for vigilante actions planned for June 30.

We are creating a genuine African middle class not a professional middle class like you have here.

— Christopher MutsvangwaDescribing the type of middle class Zimbabwe aims to foster.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by AllAfrica Zimbabwe in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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