Who are the people seeking shelter in the grounds of the SA embassy in Harare?
An colleague in Harare has just advised us that there are between 100 and 200 people huddled together for warmth inside the grounds of the South African embassy in Harare - on the ground in the parking area. He described them as being “like frightened animals, huddling together for comfort and warmth”.
We have no idea who they are and why they are there, but we are speculating that they may be Harvest House refugees who were forced from their last place of shelter by a police raid two nights ago. Apparently these poor people - who we must remember had turned to Harvest House for shelter after being driven out of their own homes - have been sleeping rough in a park since the raid. Some of the Harvest House evictees have been tortured, are nursing injuries and have been subsisting on one meal a day.
Technically, if this is them, they are now on SA soil and are politically protected. We understand that if they have not formally sought asylum them they don’t qualify for full protection. It is interesting that the SA Embassy has seen fit to provide shelter to some Zimbabweans. Does a foreign embassy usually provide shelter to a country’s homeless people? Or do they do so when they believe those people to be at serious risk? If the latter then surely it’s recognition of how bad things are.
June 25th, 2008 19:57
I have heard that they are MDC supporters. Think you may be right, could be some of the Harvest House refugees.
June 25th, 2008 20:20
Last I heard, the South Africans have a penchant for beating up foreigners seeking shelter and help from them. Hope those poor buggers in the embassy are watching their backs.
June 25th, 2008 21:52
Normally embassies do not offer shelter to a country’s homeless, as the ambassador would receive a strong communique from the country’s foreign minister if they did. But it has occurred that those in peril have been housed and protected, even up to a year and more in ex-Communist countries. This usually occurs when the refugees are in danger of being arrested the moment they leave. So this situation, and the numbers involved, certainly makes a strong point.
June 26th, 2008 11:26
Indeed it is the displaced people from all over Zimbabwe who have come to seek shelter in the SA Embassy not so far away from where i work, l want to think they have made the right move to seek refuge from that embassy maybe the mediator in our nation’s situation may get to really realise the crisis that is a reality in Zimbabwe.
Allow me to say that from all that l have read on comments and the statements issued by most African states and the international community, it South Africa’s final statement ……….”it s the decision of the people of Zimbabwe to recognise the impending eletion results or not………”What decision does South Africa expect Zimbabweans to make under such a repressive political climate? What decision are they talking about when so much violence and intimidation has been ochestrated upon the electorate, what legitimate decision can civilians make against armed JOC chiefs and their boys?
In my opinion the diplomatic stance that continues to be taken by the SA govt as far as the crisis in Zim is concerned seems to condemn the Zimbabweans to the slaughter