REPORT WITH US

Is something happening we should know about? Our readers give us some of our best story ideas.

WhatsApp: +263 7 18636459
Email: editor@thecitizenbulletin.com 
Twitter: @TheCB_News
Facebook: The Citizen Bulletin

Operation Dudula: ‘Injiva’ Hang In Balance

Matabeleland people in South Africa have suffered several outbreaks of xenophobic attacks by vigilante groups in South Africa. Image by The Citizen


BY MUSA MAKINA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | MAY 5, 2022

Dire economic conditions force many to take the perilous journey to South Africa (SA); some risking crocodile attacks, drowning and muggings while using illegal entry points.


GWANDA (The Citizen Bulletin) — Pholisile Moyo left the dusty Jahunda streets of Gwanda in 2016 for South Africa inspired by other youth in her area that left the country several years ago.

But her stay in SA has never been rosy.


“We were staying in Alexander with my cousin when our shack was torched in 2020. We managed to escape. However, since then life in Johannesburg has been hell as we now know that anything can happen any time.”
Pholisile Moyo


Over the years, Matabeleland people in South Africa like Pholisile have suffered outbreaks of xenophobic attacks by vigilante groups in South Africa on accusations of stealing jobs.

The worst episode took place in 2015, forcing a number of foreign nationals to close their businesses and request voluntary repatriation to their home countries.

The latest anti-immigrant campaign code named Operation Dudula recently claimed the life of Elvis Nyathi from Malaba, in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province.

Nyathi, who was brutally attacked and set on fire, was buried at Umvutsha cemetery in Bulawayo on April 16, 2022.

Researchers have cited poverty, unemployment and crime as the greatest sources of contention against foreigners.

Last month, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said an estimated 3.95 million foreigners live in that country.

He said there are no exact records for undocumented immigrants.

The number of Zimbabweans living outside Zimbabwe varies significantly from 4 to 7 million people, though it is generally accepted at just over 3 million people.

Statistics show that about 70% of foreigners in South Africa come from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho.

Recently, Diepsloot protests claimed the life of Elvis Nyathi from Malaba, in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province. Image by Africanews


The remaining 30% is made up of people from Malawi, UK, Namibia, eSwatini, previously known as Swaziland, India and other countries.

In South Africa, violent attacks peaked in 2008 and in 2015.

In 2008, more than 60 people were reported to have been killed and thousands displaced.

According to then SA government communications head Themba Maseko, at least 21 of the 62 people killed in the 2008 xenophobic clashes were South African citizens.

In the 2015 clashes which started in Durban, and later spread to other townships in and around Johannesburg, at least 7 Zimbabweans died and thousands were displaced.

In the latest Dudula operation, the only known death is that of Elvis and one Nigerian foreigner.

Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson Nqabutho Mabhena says Zimbabweans are living in fear of their lives.


“We do not think the attacks will end soon, remember they started in 2008.”
Nqabutho Mabhena


“Unemployment is also rising in South Africa. People are competing for little resources leading to these attacks.”

Gauteng province, which includes South Africa's largest city Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria, has the highest rate of violence against foreign nationals, followed by the Western Cape, according to the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS). KwaZulu-Natal, where Durban is situated, is third.

African Diaspora Forum chair Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda says there was unbridled hatred towards Zimbabweans by certain groups including politicians.

“We have quite a lot of people who have been injured, some of them unreported so we don’t have the numbers yet,” Sibanda says.

Sibanda says they plan to sue Operation Dudula leaders over the death of Nyathi.


“We don’t forsee an end to xenophobic attacks. We are also looking at the violation of human rights, for instance in the Elvis case we are trying to see if we can bring a case against the Dudula leadership for inciting people.”
Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda, African Diaspora Forum chair


While the end of the crisis looks nigh, many injivas have managed to give back to their community with some building social amenities such as schools, clinics and installing boreholes among other necessities.

Fanisani Dube, 42, from Madlambudzi says he invested R1, 5 million in his hometown of Plumtree while he was still working in South Africa. Dube is now the Council Chairperson for Plumtree Town Council and employs a number of locals in his “Chicken King and Pizza” restaurant.


ALSO READ: Injection Phobia Haunts Learners As COVID-19 Vaccination Extends To Pupils


The unpredictable situation for migrants in that country has forced many locals to invest back home so that they have a fall back plan when forced to return home. Currently, a majority of locals based in South Africa support families and relatives back home while also providing courier services, ferrying passengers, groceries and other goods between Johannesburg and rural Matabeleland.

But with their safety in South Africa in doubt, Bulawayo based pastor, Jedmos Moyo says the central government must stop marginalising Matabeleland and promote economic development in the region. For many in rural Matabeleland, South Africa is a destination of choice as they escape lack of unemployment and opportunities back home.

“The central government must build a Zimbabwe that accommodates every Zimbabwean, and provides opportunities for the sons and daughters of Matabeleland,” Moyo says.


Do you have a hyperlocal story to share?

WhatsApp us on: +263 71 863 6459.  Email us on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Since You’re Here, We’ve a Small Request…

Our hard-hitting hyperlocal reporting and analysis reaches one in every three people across the greater region of Matabeleland, southwestern Zimbabwe. That means our content reaches approximately 60,000 readers each week. However, in order for our well-rounded journalism to reach more people who need it to make informed decisions about their lives and their communities, we need to build a strong audience of followers that would receive our rigorous reporting in just one place. Because of exorbitant internet data costs, we know most of our readers use messaging apps such as WhatsApp to get all our content in one place. But the platform, predominantly used by our readers, is not primarily designed for content distribution and reader engagement. That is why we’re building a WhatsApp Bot to navigate this challenge. But in order for this strategy to work effectively to serve our needs, we want all our casual readers like you to be part of our growing WhatsApp Community. To be part of this community of registered users, WhatsApp the word "JOIN" to +263 71 863 6459. We look forward to engaging and building a lasting relationship with you. Thank you.