Zim consulate unfazed by SA cabinet reshuffle

ZIMBABWE’s Consul-General to South Africa, Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, has said the recent Cabinet reshuffle that saw a new Home affairs Minister being appointed in South Africa is unlikely to result in a policy shift regarding the stay of locals in the neighbouring country.

He said following the recent Cabinet reshuffle, the country’s Ambassador to South Africa, Mr Isaac Moyo, will soon pay a courtesy call on the new Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize who took over from Mr Malusi Gigaba who is now the Minister of Finance.

“Usually policies have to be consistent, the changing at political level doesn’t necessarily signify change in the way policies have been handled because they usually carry on with a policy framework even though individuals have their own style of management. But by and large the policy framework is the same once it’s established,” said Mr Mukonoweshuro.

He urged Zimbabweans to respect South Africa’s hospitality by not engaging in criminal activities.

Mr Mukonoweshuro’s comments follow South Africa’s Minister of Police Mr Fikile Mbalula’s statement on Sunday that five Zimbabweans had been arrested for armed robbery at a Johannesburg jewellery shop.

Mr Mukonoweshuro said committing crime leads to the country’s nationals being targeted during xenophobic attacks.

In February, xenophobic attacks erupted in South Africa with South Africans blaming foreigners for drug peddling and prostitution.

“These bad apples are not doing our name, our flag and our country a good name. You see, once a person is said to be a Zimbabwean thief, murderer, rapist or anything, people would tend to connote the same for others who are not criminals,” said Mr Mukonoweshuro.

“We’ve always encouraged people to be exemplary as they are on foreign land and it’s easier to be targeted and isolated.”

He said his office has expressed concern over the identification of criminals by their nationality as crime has nothing to do with their country of origin.

Mr Mukonoweshuro said the South African media has been guilty in that regard.

“When you label forthrightly people will remember the nationality rather than the crime. Yet the criminal will be one among thousands. We caution both sides but we also want to urge our nationals to desist from being involved in criminal activities. This does not augur well for relations between the two countries,” he said.—@nqotshili