/ 19 June 2009

SA officials assaulted Zim refugees, claims MDC

Zimbabwean refugees sorting out asylum papers were allegedly assaulted by home affairs officials, the MDC said on Friday in Durban.

Zimbabwean refugees sorting out asylum papers were allegedly assaulted by home affairs officials, Zimbabwean political party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Friday in Durban.

MDC district chairperson Nhamo Chikowore said there was ”apparent segregation” at the department.

He accused officials of ignoring Zimbabweans while other foreign nationals were attended to.

He was speaking at a picket called by the MDC to get the department to speed up the issuing of asylum papers, which the party claimed took about four months.

By 10am about 15 MDC supporters were picketing outside the Moore Road Home Affairs Department.

Police spokesperson Inspector Michael Read said there had been no incidents at the department thus far.

”We are not aware of any violence there.”

Home Affairs Department spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said he would comment on the matter shortly.

Earlier, regional MDC spokesperson Sheperd Zvavanhu said the party called for the picket because refugees were getting sick while waiting in long queues outside the department offices in Durban.

”The Home Affairs Department does not allow them to use water inside the building and there is no running water outside, and people are there for about three to four days, queuing in lines.

”At night, there are over 400 people in a queue.”

Refugees were going for days without drinking water or eating food, he said.

”The refugees have no resources. We help each other out at times,” he said.

”Women and children standing there are going hungry and are dehydrated.”

Zvavanhu said the party was distressed to find that some refugees had even collapsed in the queues.

The asylum seekers, he said, did not even have access to toilets and were forced to urinate in an open site which he described as ”humiliating and unhygienic”.

”The department takes far too long to issue asylum papers and that needs to change,” said Zvavanhu.

A memorandum detailing the concerns would be handed over to the department. — Sapa