Zimbabwe at the crossroads

1
Zimbabwe at the crossroads

• A mass exodus of refugees began after President
  Mugabe imposed price controls in an attempt to
  rein in hyper inflation. Demographic
  guesswork?
• The current rate of illegal border crossing into
  South Africa is being called the largest
  displacement of people outside of a war zone
  since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
• The South African Independent, a Sunday
  newspaper, has quoted 'official' estimates that
  20,000 to 30,000 undocumented Zimbabweans have
  been crossing into South Africa every month in
  search of food.
• There is an often-quoted figure of far above
  three million undocumented Zimbabweans in South
  Africa.

2
Zimbabwe a crisis unfolding

• What is hope, in Zimbabwe?
• In a land where people are dying from eating tree
  roots, which they confuse with cassava
• Hope in Zimbabwe boils down to a little to eat,
  to survive the night and imagine a new,
  better day.
• If this is hope in Zimbabwe, what awaits those
  who leave to find hope elsewhere..?

3
Zimbabwe crossing the border

• As the situation gets worse in Zimbabwe, people
  have become so desperate that they grab any
  opportunity that can to get out of the country.
• South Africa is a neighbour that has a strong
  economy so all the people are flocking there.
• Unfortunately, because of visa requirements which
  many can not meet, they resort to border-jumping
  in spite of the risks.
• Many are crossing through Beit Bridge. They cross
  the Limpopo River into South Africa. Here, they
  face many dangers. To avoid detection by the
  police on the Zimbabwe side they cross at night
  but that is not their only problem.
• There are people called Gumagumas- criminals,
  who pounce on border crossers and rob them. If
  they succeed in avoiding these, the next dangers
  are crocodiles in the Limpopo...
• followed by an electrical fence, sandwiched by
  razor wire and patrolled by armed soldiers. Due
  to the desperate situation in Zimbabwe, people
  are risking their lives anyway.
• When these refugees have managed to cross the
  electric fence their problems are not over yet.
  From the fence they get into the game reserve
  area where vicious animals await.

4
Zimbabweans seeking refuge in South Africa

• N, formerly of Zimbabwe Police, standing in
  front of Hope for Africa Missions offices
• N ran away from the Zimbabwe police force,
  because what he was earning was far less than his
  expenses and could not support his family or
  himself
• He could not resign because the government,
  having lost a lot of its employees, does not
  approve any resignations
• He simply took his pay slip which allows civil
  servants to cross border without a visa, and used
  it to come to South Africa

5
T...s story

• T is a young man in his early 30s.
• He was employed three years ago by a South
  African store/trading company operating in
  Zimbabwe.
• It was a thriving business, and T was happy that
  he was going to support his elderly father and
  mother as well as brothers and sisters.
• But all that has come to an end due to the harsh
  economic conditions. T is still going to work,
  just to look after the premises and a few clothes
  that are left.
• Soon the company will close its doors and T will
  be roaming the streets with many others.

6
Bs story

• B is a mother of two in her 30s.
• She has been pursuing a three year diploma in
  teaching college.
• This year, having completed the first two years,
  she has had to quit.
• The unbearable economic conditions have made it
  difficult for her to continue. She has no food
  for herself and her two children.
• Like many others who are leaving their jobs and
  courses, she has decided to quit and jump the
  border into South Africa. She has left the
  children with someone

7
Es story

• Mrs E is a 29 year old mother of one. She too
  has been forced to leave home due to the biting
  economic conditions in Zimbabwe.
• She comes from a rural area west of Mutare. She
  says she had no choice but to leave her
  6-year-old child so that she can do piece jobs in
  South Africa and buy food to send home.
• How happy she was to find a place called Hope For
  Africa Missions, where she was assisted with
  clothes and some food.

8
Ts story

• Mrs Tis also in the same predicament as all
  other Zimbabweans who have crossed the border.
  She comes from the midlands province.
• T left her two children aged 8 and 13 to come to
  South Africa in search of food to support her
  family. She is very grateful to come across Hope
  For Africa and get assistance.
• Her first port of arrival was Musina which
  terrified them very much as one refugee was
  killed by gumagumas in front of the gate.
• Such is the experience of refugees as they look
  for help.
• God, have mercy

9

• Hope for Africa Mission,
• in partnership with
• WorldShare, has set up a
• refugee ministry which helps
• the victims in the following
• way
• Humanitarian relief by means of providing food
  parcels and clothes to the victims
• Medical assistance to those who need it
• Blankets and other basic needs
• For those who appear to be too vulnerable,
  temporary shelter for a day or two while they are
  looking for accommodation.

Food parcels ready for distribution
Clothing ready for distribution