By BRANDON JOSPHAT
THE Zimbabwean government has given a soft landing to its citizens who were based in South Africa as they will not pay duty on one vehicle and no limits to personal property upon their return.
This comes as mass deportations of undocumented Zimbabweans are expected from South Africa following expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemptions Permits (ZEPs) which South Africa had granted them.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, pictured, said the government is ready to receive its citizens.
“The Zimbabwean government has issued guidelines and regulations for returning residents which include one duty-free vehicle and no limits to personal property.
“Government has also engaged the South African government, emphasizing that Zimbabwe is ready to receive its returning nationals, who should comply with the relevant South African laws.”
South Africa had initially given the ZEP holders a grace period of up to December 31, 2022 to apply for alternative visas, and later extended the ZEP validity to June 30, 2023.
“The alternative visas include student, business, spousal and work permit visas. However, most ZEP holders do not qualify for the outlined critical skills visas hence the low uptake.
“Cabinet agreed to establish an inter-ministerial committee to prepare for the returning residents.
“The committee will be supported by sub committees which will include the following functional areas: transport and logistics, security, documentation, re-integration support, resource mobilisation, information and publicity as well as health and education,” Mutsvangwa said further.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also adopted the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (compliance, monitoring and evaluation) regulations, 2022, and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (general) (amendment) regulations in order to curb corruption.
“The proposed regulations will go a long way in enhancing the integrity of public procurement and ensure that public procurement is conducted in a transparent, fair, honest, cost-effective and competitive manner and in compliance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.”
Mutsvangwa added that the Cabinet approved the establishment of the human-wildlife conflict relief fund for victims.
“Cabinet wishes to highlight that, as a result of its successful conservation programmes, the country’s increasing human and wildlife populations have led to competition for limited resources between humans and animals.
“In 1980, Zimbabwe had reached an elephant population of approximately 50 000, while the human population was 7,4 million. In the year 2022, the Zimstats population census estimated the number of people to have more than doubled to 16 million.
“Cabinet notes that the government, through the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), is implementing interventions to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
“The measures include conservation education in the use of barriers; translocation, sterilization and selective culling of wildlife; approved hunting quotas; and fencing to restrict or control the movement of wildlife.”- Daily News