The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, said Zimbabweans fleeing from the economic crisis into South Africa were not entitled to refugee status, and border camps should not be set up to accommodate them, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported on Friday.
This was the stance of the South African government, and the world’s top refugee official agreed, the SABC said.
Guterres met Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula at the Crown Mines Refugee Reception office on Friday, where they listened to the complaints of refugees.
The UN said over three million Zimbabweans had fled and most had flocked to South Africa. However, only a limited number had applied for asylum.
Many called for a refugee camp, but the UN disagreed.
”Only those who have never lived in a refugee camp will advocate a refugee camp as a solution for problems of this nature. A refugee camp is an extremely hard place to live in,” said Guterres.
Mapisa-Nqakula said South Africa stood to benefit from the economic recovery of Zimbabwe, and support had to be given to President Thabo Mbeki’s mediation with that country.
At least 500 Zimbabweans have been granted refugee status, but the UN said those fleeing their country for economic reasons were not legally defined as refugees.
The UN said it would support South Africa in its initiatives, but a contingency plan had been made in anticipation of thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing their country’s worsening political and economic situation. — Sapa