The mayor of Musina Municipality, Caroline Mahasela, forgot her busy schedule for a while to give support and hope to hundreds of foreign nationals, mainly Zimbabweans, who are lining up to apply for asylum status at the Musina Show Grounds.

Together with a team of local community builders, the mayor cleaned, cooked and distributed food to the men, women and children who have chosen to make South Africa their second home.  The food was received from different donors, who include churches, non-governmental structures and individuals.

The Zimbabwean asylum seekers flee from their country to South Africa because of the crumbling Zimbabwean economy and unstable political situation. Some of them spend days while waiting for their documents to be processed.

Mahasela said it was important to give support to the foreign nationals because they were victims of circumstances beyond their control. She said Africans have always been sympathetic towards each other since the creation of mankind.

She continued: “We are doing this out of love, humanity, brotherhood and compassion. We are all one nation. It is only boundaries, religion, languages and cultural practices that separate us. If something bad happens to our brothers, we must also feel the pain because we are children of the same blood. That is why we have put everything aside to come and pledge our loyalty here today.”

Smiles of joy could not be hidden from the faces of hundreds of the foreign nationals as Mahasela told them that the Musina Municipality would continue to support them, despite limited resources. “Through the support from our government, community structures and non-governmental organizations, we have an obligation to make sure that these foreign nationals must be treated fairly and without discrimination. We are all praying for a peaceful and united Africa where stability will be the order of the day.”

One of the asylum seekers, Jealous Moyo, who comes from Gweru in Zimbabwe, said: “We are very happy to learn that there are people who care. We travelled hundreds of kilometers to South Africa, thinking that we were venturing into a foreign country. We can now feel that we are home away from home. A very big thanks to the mayor and her entourage and the donors who refueled our courage to go on with life although things are tough.”