Mbalula hits out at ‘criminals’ from Zim

ZIMBABWEAN opposition political parties say South Africa is paying the price for propping up the government of President Robert Mugabe, whose controversial policies are responsible for the influx of economic refugees across the Limpopo River.

In response to Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, who has accused Zimbabwean ex-soldiers of committing armed robbery and other crimes, the parties said the ANC government had adopted a policy of appeasement by failing to take firmer action against Mugabe.

Mbalula’s hard-hitting remarks during a press conference in Pretoria on Tuesday have sparked an uproar in Zimbabwe. Some commentators hailed the forthright stance while others have condemned the minister for painting every immigrant with the same brush and promoting xenophobia.

Mbalula denied fanning xenophobia. “There are people from Zimbabwe who cross the line here. They run away from the military in Zimbabwe and promote criminality in South Africa,” he said.

“In Zimbabwe, once you are a soldier, you are a soldier for life. You can’t get out of it. So to get out of it they run to South Africa, then they come here and rob banks.

“They are on the payroll of criminals, and we can’t trace them. If a South African steals, it’s easy to trace them because I will find you somewhere in the forensics because I have your fingerprints. I’ve got you all covered.”

Mbalula said the Zimbabweans “enter the country illegally and they come here not to promote goodwill”.

Gorden Moyo, secretary-general of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, said Mbalula’s comments showed that the political chickens had come home to roost.

“This reveals a terrible truth about a situation in Zimbabwe; that a legion of our servicemen are deserting the army because Mugabe’s government has failed to look after them.

“It also sends a clear message that the problems (in Zimbabwe) have a direct impact on the domestic affairs. Instead of (President Jacob) Zuma popping champagne, celebrating useless bilateral agreements with Mugabe, South Africa should be behaving like Nigeria in West Africa, forcing dictators to abide by the principles of democracy. While we don’t condone what our army deserters are doing, we condemn both Mugabe and Zuma,” he said.