by Tendai Hungwe
JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe's Co-Ministers of Home Affairs have urged thousands of Zimbabweans living in neighbouring South Africa to return home and said police were willing to consider dropping some charges against political activists.
Addressing a gathering last Saturday in Sandton, Kembo Mohadi and Giles Mutsekwa said exiled Zimbabweans, among them some of the country's most skilled business and financial technocrats, should return to help in the reconstruction of the country's economy.
"The Zimbabwe inclusive government is ready to drop all charges against political activists and specified business people, who are currently living outside the country. It is time to rebuild our nation," said Mohadi, a member of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party.
Mutsekwa, from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party, said the unity government was working to improve the country's economy that is showing signs of recovery after a decade in recession.
"The onus is on us as an inclusive government to ensure there is prosperity in our country, and this is exactly what we are trying to achieve," said Mutsekwa.
Addressing the same gathering, South African Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Maphisa-Nqakula urged Zimbabwe's three governing parties to resolve political differences holding their coalition government in order to allow for speedy economic recovery necessary to attract back multitudes of Zimbabweans who have fled their home country.
She said: "My appeal to you Zimbabweans, please engage and dialogue in order to resolve your differences. Always remember that South Africa will never be your home, your home is in Zimbabwe, so resolve your problems and go back to your home."
Several exiled Zimbabwean business leaders, among them former Trust Bank chief executive officer William Nyemba, businessman James Makamba, mining magnate Mutumwa Mawere and many others attended the function last night.
Several dignitaries from the Canadian embassy, British government, Netherlands, China and Germany were also present.
At least three million Zimbabweans are said to be living outside the country, the majority of them in South Africa, having fled political repression and poverty after a decade-long economic crisis blamed on Mugabe's controversial policies, including his farm seizure programme.
The unity government formed by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara last February is yet to convince rich Western nations that the southern African country is firmly on the path to genuine reform for them give it much needed financial support to resuscitate its shattered economy.
