The South African Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, has refuted recent claims by immigration authorities in the neighbouring country that some of the stringent visa requirements for Zimbabweans intending to travel into the country had been relaxed following a series of inter-governmental meetings.

The South African Embassy’s Head of the Civic and Immigration Affairs, Mr MD Nzuza, said the policy on the visa requirements for Zimbabweans intending to enter South Africa were still the same. This is, however, quite contrary to a statement by the Zimbabwean Chief Principal Immigration Officer, Mr Clemence Masango, which was published in a previous edition of Mirror.

"As far as we (South African Embassy) is concerned, we have neither relaxed nor changed the visa requirements for Zimbabweans wishing to travel to our country. In fact, we still require applicants to produce a letter of invitation from a relevant individual, business or organisation they intend to visit in South Africa, proof of funds to sustain oneself in the form of traveller’s cheques amounting to R2 000 or credit cards to cover envisaged expenses during the stay in South Africa," he said.

In addition to the visa requirements, applicants are also supposed to produce a vaccination certificate, as required by the Act.

Nzuza said they only accepted a passport, which is valid for not less than 30 days after the intended visit and containing at least two blank pages for the issuance of the South African visa.

"In respect of minors or dependent children accompanying the applicant to or joining the applicant in South Africa, then applications must be accompanied with a proof of such guardianship or in the case of an unaccompanied minor, we need a consent from the guardian or parent," he said.

Nzuza added that in the case of doubt about the bona fides of an applicant, the consular officials reserve the right to ask for additional information, such as cash deposits or a valid return air ticket.

Many Zimbabweans, especially women, are involved in cross-border trading business to eke out a living. They cross into South Africa to purchase local commodities, which are in short supply back home, for resale in Zimbabwe. They also sell their wares in South Africa; with the economic problems and high unemployment rate continuing to take their toll on the neighbouring country, scores of Zimbabweans are now resorting to both legally and illegally crossing the Limpopo River in search of greener pastures in South Africa.