Human Rights, Dignity and Well Being: The Plight Of Zimbabwean Refugees And Displaced People In Southern Africa

Abstract

In this paper we looked at the various reasons why refugees, economic migrants and IDPs leave their countries / home areas, how the foreign migrants manage to cross borders into other countries and the lives they are experiencing in foreign countries. More importantly, the focus of this paper has been their treatment by the nationals of the host countries as well as other foreigners. We argue that there has not been enough humanitarian attention given to the people displaced by their home country economic downturn and political mayhem by South African authorities because South African legislation regards them as economic migrants who do not qualify for a refugee status. It is only recently that Zimbabweans got a sympathetic ear from the South African authorities as the process of leagalising their stay in South Africa is now less cumbersome. Our conclusion is that the international community, Southern Africa, and South Africa in particular have not treated refugees and economically displaced people especially those from Zimbabwe with a human face.

Keywords: Human rights; refugees; IDPs; migration; Zimbabwe; plight; southern Africa; foreigner.