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Read, Debate: Engage.
| topic: | Refugees and Asylum |
|---|---|
| located: | Zimbabwe, Botswana |
| editor: | Bob Koigi |
A section of Zimbabwe refugees who fled to neighbouring Botswana following years of political violence in the Southern African nation during former president Robert Mugabe’s autocratic rule have begun to go back home.
The majority of the refugees are supporters of the late Morgan Tsvangirai, a former opposition leader and head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who was persecuted and tortured by security forces and militia from the ruling party ZANU PF following a heavily contested election in 2008.
While there is now a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in Botswana, a huge percentage of them have not been keen to take over the offer despite numerous assurances from the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that it is safe.
The number of those who have registered to go back home is a dismal indication of the growing jitters and mistrust that the refugees have on the government of the day.
The political environment in Zimbabwe under President Emmerson Mnangagwa has greatly improved with a relatively fair democratic space. Press freedom and political pluralism have been embraced to a great extent.
But there have been concerns over pockets of political violence, muzzling of the press and silencing of human rights activists.
As Botswana puts more pressure on Zimbabwe to take back its people, the Zimbabwe government must be reminded of its fiduciary duty of protecting all its citizens and their rights irrespective of their political and religious affiliations.
At a time when the world is working hard to address the refugee crisis that has reached epidemic proportions, countries like Zimbabwe must join the community of nations in reducing the refugee population by creating a safe environment for citizens to enjoy their inalienable rights without fear or intimidation.
Image: World Economic Forum.
