Years ago, I was traveling for UNICEF in Zimbabwe. It was heartbreaking. After the catastrophic invasion of land and the collapse of the Zimbabwean dollar, the government had introduced the US dollar as currency. Food was again available on supermarket shelves – the only problem was that people could not afford it. Terrible hardship was visible everywhere. 

On my way to Harare General hospital (another heartbreaking story), we stopped at a traffic light. A skinny teenage boy was standing at the light and looked sadly over at us. In his hand he held a few small home-made brooms.  I wounded down the window and greeted him. He rushed over. I asked him how much the brooms were.  He replied that I could get 3 for $1. A slight pause in my reaction made him drop the price. “Please umlungu, I need money for my family. How much can you pay?”

I had no intention to bargain – quite the opposite. I gave him $10 that I had in my wallet and took one broom. I told him to keep the change. He looked at me in disbelief and offered me all his merchandise. I declined. He suddenly looked down and I realized he was trying to hide the tears. As a teenage boy, he was embarrassed to be crying, but clearly the idea of having $10 to take home overwhelmed him. He thanked me profusely between the tears and as we left, I saw the other Zimbabweans in the car also wiping away tears. 

I will never forget that proud young man. 

Around the same time, the South African government introduced the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), which gave Zimbabweans who were fleeing to South Africa for political or economic reasons, an opportunity to work, study and live here. 

This is the permit that the government now wants to withdraw. 

It is estimated that it will affect about 178 000 Zimbabweans who, unless they can qualify for a normal work visa – something we all know will be nearly impossible given the high standards that the government has introduced for rare skills – will have to leave the country by the end of June. 

The tragedy is that many of these Zimbabweans have been here for more than a decade. Numbers of them have married South Africans and have children who know only South Africa as their home.  Many will now be forced to separate and families will be broken. 

Almost all democratic countries around the world allow people to apply for permanent residence once they’ve been in that country legally for 60 months.  The Minister of Home Affairs has argued that this was never the case for those on the ZEP, but the question is: why not? Isn’t it morally the right thing to do – not to talk about international judice prudence?

It is also often argued that Zimbabweans are taking jobs away from South Africans. I doubt that this is actually a real issue. Even if it is, it is important to recognise that Zimbabweans contribute greatly to our economy. Not only do they work hard in professions where employers often struggle to fill positions with South Africans, but they also buy goods here to send back to Zimbabwe. 

I have on more than one occasion watched in astonishment as the busses heading for Zimbabwe are being loaded-up in a nearby township. Fridges, beds, microwaves, bedding etc. are loaded together with clothes and food – confirming for me that “our” Zimbabweans are worth a great deal in terms of buying power.

Of course, there are always those who claim that Zimbabweans are involved in crime. I have no doubt that some are, but crime is certainly not the prerogative of Zimbabweans. If people are involved in crime, they must be caught and prosecuted – irrespective of nationality. I’m confident that the majority of Zimbabweans – like the majority of South Africans - are honest, peace loving and hardworking people.

Let’s also remember that this is not part of the so-called leaky borders issue, where people enter South Africa without valid permits. These are people who legally applied to be here through a scheme that the government voluntarily introduced. 

Ultimately, this is an issue about compassion. Zimbabwe might be a bit more stable politically today compared to when I was there in 2010, but it remains a country of political persecution and massive economic hardship. 

To force almost 200 000 people to go back there is inhumane and cruel, and will result in devastating suffering not only for those returning, but for the extended families they support. It will also leave thousands of South African employers without workers who they have come to rely on. 

PS: Writing this, I was interrupted by two electricians working in my house. After their report back, I asked where they were from. You guessed it: both were from Zimbabwe and were deeply anxious about having to go back. Each had applied for a work permit but neither has yet received one – despite the fact that their expertise qualifies as a “rare skill.”