ZEP: Gayton McKenzie accuses Motsoaledi of selling fight against illegal immigration

In his reaction, Mckenzie said Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi sold out the fight against illegal immigration over ZEP extension.

Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie criticised the Department of Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi for opting to extend the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) for a further six months.

GAYTON MCKENZIE CALLS OUT DR AARON MOTSOALEDI

Motsoaledi announced the extension yesterday after citing progression in visa and waiver applications.

“Minister Aaron Motsoaledi sold out the fight against illegal immigration.”

McKenzie

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“The one moment he goes to court, the next moment he extends the validity of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits by another six months, with the period now ending on the 31st of December. Let them go home,” McKenzie further expressed himself.

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THE REASON BEHIND THE ZEP EXTENSION

The Department of Home Affairs Minister released the following statement to announce the extension of ZEP, it reads:

As you are aware, the Minister of Home Affairs (Minister) issued a directive in September 2022, extending the validity of exemption permits issued to Zimbabwean nationals to 30 June 2023. Since that time, significant developments took place.

1. The Minister has approved thousands of waiver applications of the affected Zimbabwean nationals. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of visa and waiver applications. The Departmental Advisory Committee (DAC) led by Dr Cassius Lubisi is now dealing with the increased number of visa applications. The Minister is equally considering and approving waiver applications on a daily basis.
2. Unlike before since May/beginning of June 2023, VFS Global is now receiving between 1 000 – 1 500 visa and waiver applications of the affected Zimbabwean nationals daily. For these reasons, the Director-General has deployed more officials to assist in the processing of the applications.
3. The Minister took into consideration the said factors, including (to a certain extent) submissions received from the affected Zimbabwean nationals, relevant officials of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and other interested parties and decided to issue another Immigration Directive, extending the validity of Zimbabwean exemption permits for a further period of 6 months, ending on 31 December 2023.

   The Minister’s Immigration Directive no: 2 of 2023, will be published in the Extraordinary Government Gazette on Thursday, 8 June 2023.

• The Minister calls upon all interested parties to take into consideration the said Directive in their decision-making processes.
• The Minister will be addressing a letter to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation requesting her to issue a note verbale to bring the Directive to the attention of His Excellency, the Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

This is a developing story.

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