Zimbabwean Member of Parliament calls for 25,000 South Africans to be expelled from country

A political firestorm has erupted in Harare after a member of the Zimbabwean Parliament demanded that approximately 25,000 South African citizens be kicked out of the country. The move is being framed as a direct retaliation for the ongoing exodus of Zimbabweans from South Africa.

Clemence Chiduwa, representing the ruling Zanu-PF party, tabled the controversial proposal before the legislature. He argued that Zimbabwe must adopt a policy of reciprocity, matching the treatment its own citizens are currently receiving across the border.

A Tense Border Climate

Tensions have been high since the passing of a June 30 deadline for many foreign nationals to leave South Africa. While hundreds of thousands have either been repatriated or left voluntarily, transport hurdles and administrative delays have left many others stranded.

Chiduwa’s challenge to his fellow lawmakers was clear: he believes Zimbabwe should mirror the anti-immigration stance seen in the south. However, his suggestion met immediate resistance from high-ranking government officials.

Government Rejects Mass Expulsions

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was quick to dismiss the proposal during the parliamentary session. He emphasized that President Emmerson Mnangagwa would not support the expulsion of fellow Africans, maintaining a stance of continental solidarity despite the current friction.

While the government has rejected retaliatory deportations, it is also not offering special perks to those returning. President Mnangagwa previously stated that citizens coming back from South Africa will not receive specific employment or integration programs.

Logistics at Beitbridge

The Zimbabwean government has instead focused its resources on basic welfare and transport for returnees. A ministerial team stationed at the Beitbridge border post has already assisted over 3,000 citizens in their journey back home since mid-2024.

For now, South Africans living in Zimbabwe appear safe from the proposed purge. The administration remains firm that while they will help their own people return, they will not engage in a diplomatic 'tit-for-tat' regarding immigration status.