South Africa`s Harare embassy feels the heat

Source: Zimbabwe News, 29/08/2015

THE South African Embassy in Harare has their work cut out again as
hundreds of Zimbabweans look to escape the country`s worsening
economic crisis.


As early at 6.30am, long queues steadily form outside their Belgravia
offices. The security guards are in charge until 7.30am when the
embassy officially opens. Two South African nationals drive into the
carpark and start work immediately even before they switch on their
computers. Their task is to sort out the scores of people lined up
outside.


Graciously, they call out those who have collection receipts first,
then those who are submitting new applications. Next to be allowed in
are those who have appeal cases. Lastly, they deal with general
enquiries and those who want to collect application forms.


Just a year ago, the embassy was relatively quiet, but today is it a
different story. Whenever there is an economic crisis in Zimbabwe,
neighbouring South Africa directly feels the heat.


In the recent weeks, Zimbabwe has been rocked by massive job cuts
after the Supreme Court ruled that employers can, in fact, terminate
employee contracts by giving just three months` notice. Furthermore,
employers are not obliged to pay out a retrenchment package. This has
seen over 20,000 people losing their jobs in a space of two weeks,
further dragging the already crippled economy deeper in the mire.


The number of Zimbabweans seeking economic refuge in South Africa has
drastically increased in recent weeks. The volume of applications at
the embassy has been further heightened by the South African
government`s decision to have most immigration applications processed
in the respective immigrant`s countries.


The Harare embassy had to deploy more staffers to handle the large
volume of applications they receive on a daily basis. At the moment,
Zimbabweans can enter South Africa visa-free for 90 days a year.


Officials at the Harare embassy said most of applications are
from those who are applying for the Critical Skills visa,
over-stayers` appeals and student visas.


Almost every other school leaver aspires to study further in South
Africa where entrance requirements are much more lenient compared to
Zimbabwe universities. There is also a lot more colleges and
universities that a broader menu of programmes at affordable fees.



This increase in applications at the embassy is also linked to the
Harare passport office that recently got an overhaul and are
processing passports faster and more efficiently. Before, the passport
office was s shambles, and it would take longer than three months to
get a new passport. However, since the overhaul, one can get the green
book within a week and with less hassle.


But with South Africa also going through its own economic challenges -
power cuts, high crime rates - one has to wonder how all these people
are going to be accommodated in a country where the unavailability
jobs is a burning issue for the ANC government.


The jobs situation in South African is like a pyramid, heavy at the
bottom due to unskilled jobseekers and a leaner top with positions
seeking experienced and skilled workforce. These are professional jobs
that the majority of Zimbabweans are looking to fill. But as many
often find out, the road to get to top is often bumpy and has a lot of
hurdles.


The situation in Zimbabwe is almost opposite to that of South Africa.


It is not unusual to find a vendor with a university degree
in Zimbabwe. As the Zimbabwe tertiary institutions continue to dish
out graduates each year, the thin job market is overwhelmed and is
failing to fully consume all the skilled people.


Some economists have welcomed the Supreme Court on job cuts as most
companies were down on their knees with huge wage bills which they
could not sustain. With the absence of a sound social security system,
the Zimbabwe government has kept scores of redundant civil servants on
the payroll knowing fully well they are not being productive.


It is believed Zimbabwe has close to 500,000 civil servants. In a
recent human resources audit, it was revealed that there is a huge
number of ghost workers especially in the ministry of education. This
has seen the government allocating up to 80% of its budget just for
civil servants` salaries. This is obviously not sustainable for any
country, let alone for a small economy like Zimbabwe.


In trying to mitigate the problem of having jobless graduates, the
government has directed state training institutions like teachers` and
nursing schools to cut down on their intakes. This has left high
school leavers seeking alternative tertiary education in neighbouring
countries.


As much as the South African government does not want to admit that a
Zimbabwean problem ultimately becomes their problem too; the situation
on the ground speaks for itself. There has been a number of diplomatic
negotiations between the two countries to try and map out a strategy
but they both seem overwhelmed with the situation.


The question begs to be asked; why South Africa? Besides the close
proximity to Zimbabwe, it is one of the best economies in Africa and
provides that glimpse of hope and a taste of the First World without
having to go to faraway shores. The fact that one can hop on a bus and
step into `First World` Sandton, South Africa will always remain the
destination of hope for most Zimbabweans