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South Africa to Deport 15,000 Zimbabwean Farmers
South Africa prepares to deport the first group of about 15,000 Zimbabweans working on farms there through Beitbridge border post in south Zimbabwe on Monday, official newspaper The Herald reported on Monday.
The move by the South African government to deport the Zimbabweans, both legal and illegal farm workers who have been in South Africa for over 10 years, was worried here that it could spark a row between the two countries.
No comment could be obtained from the Zimbabwean government on Sunday, but authoritative government sources said the unprecedented move would force Zimbabwe to gazette more farms to resettle the deportees.
Analysts here told the newspaper that South Africa's move showed that the architects of apartheid were still alive and well in that country.
"It is surprising that an African government would do that to please a few whites. If the South African government goes ahead with this unprecedented move, the Zimbabwean government will gazette more farms to resettle these people. When we do that we do not expect anyone from South Africa to raise their voice. But this could mark a beginning of a furor against South Africa and its whites," said an analyst.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Defense and Home Affairs Portfolio Savior Kasukuwere said he would meet the deportees at Beitbridge border post on Monday.
"I hope they are prepared to meet the brunt. These people have been treated as black slaves and we will do what we can if the farm workers are deported," said Kasukuwere.
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