Hellen Zille, the Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance (DA) SOUTH Africa’s main opposition party says legalize Zimbabweans living in the country is the best way to go contrary to the populist notion of deporting them. She expressed opposition to expelling Zimbabweans in possession of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP).
Hellen said, “Well, first of all we believe that the Zimbabweans who have been allowed to stay here on the ZEP permit, I think it’s good. They should be regularized. I mean they have been here for a very, very long time, and they have added huge value to our economy, massive value to our economy.”
Zille made it a point that the populist demagoguery statements are not a solution. What is required is a long-term solution to resolve the countries immigration challenge which is a complex and time-consuming process.
“…….and because they had that ZEP permit, and you can’t just take it away from them. I mean right here, it’s something we don’t support, we don’t believe it has just to be taken away from them. We believe that we (the government of South Africa) have to have proper laws. You have to have proper border controls, and you have to build state capacity without corruption to administer them swiftly and properly. That’s what we believe,” Zille said.
She suggested that the he South African government should give illegal immigrants a chance to regularize their status so that they do not become illegal.
“When people have lived in your country for a certain amount of time, they develop certain rights to be in your country. It’s all over the world,” she said.
Zille further suggested that the nation should attract foreign skilled workers and entrepreneurs to start businesses to boost the economy and create more employment opportunities for the unskilled persons.
“What I have found, I mean, I can’t generalize, but many of the Zimbabweans I know in South Africa are highly skilled, and add a huge amount to the economy. Skilled people add more opportunities for unskilled people that they take away. So, we want skilled migration to South Africa. We want people with skills, who have got money, and skills, and entrepreneurial leanings to start businesses, that is what we want,” Zille said.