Thupeyo Muleya in MASERU, Lesotho
VICE PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi yesterday assured Zimbabweans living in Lesotho that the Government will swiftly engage the authorities to address the prohibitive costs of work and business permits, which are hampering the regularisation of their stay, among other challenges they face.
Speaking during an interactive session with Zimbabweans residing here, VP Mohadi detailed the progress made by the New Dispensation over the last seven years.
VP Mohadi was here attending the kingdoms’ bicentenary celebrations held on Friday on behalf of President Mnangagwa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson.
The celebrations marked the founding of the Basotho nation by King Moshoeshoe the First in 1824 and coincided with Lesotho’s 58th independence celebrations.
During yesterday’s engagement, Mr Moses Chisuko, vice chairperson of the Zimbabweans Living in Lesotho Association, outlined challenges faced by the Zimbabwean community, including high permit application fees; short-term permits; delays in processing the documents, which can take up to two years; and restrictions on informal traders and foreign-owned businesses.
“We have heard your grievances and we will soon engage Lesotho authorities on the issue of prohibitive costs, which are impacting your regularisation,” said the VP.
“You will note that we have good diplomatic relations with Lesotho and yesterday (Friday), we had some discussions with King Letsie III on a number of issues of mutual benefit between our two countries.
“We are people of action and we are committed to addressing challenges affecting our nationals living here.
“So, through our Consulate and Embassy in South Africa, we will be negotiating for the validity of the work permits to be reviewed from the current two years to at least around five years.”
He encouraged the diaspora community to explore investment opportunities in Zimbabwe, particularly in agriculture and other key sectors, highlighting the country’s development despite challenges such as climate change and sanctions.
“As a country, we have suffered for a long time due to the sanctions imposed by the West in retaliation after the decision to embark on the Land Reform Programme from the year 2000.
“Now, we have other challenges induced by climate change,” said the VP.
“However, with the use of local resources we have been able to move a gear up on infrastructure development and we are going to continue on that path.
“As your leadership, we have sat down and planned on how to move forward in the face of climate change and the illegal sanctions.
“Among other projects, we have been able to transform our road network considering our role as a country in facilitating regional and international trade.
“We have also upgraded the Beitbridge Border Post, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and we are in the midst of building more dams packaged with mini hydroelectricity power plants to address power supply-related issues and to promote irrigation-based farming so that we address food and nutrition security issues.”
VP Mohadi was accompanied by Acting Permanent Secretary in his office, Mr Milton Ndou, and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa and Lesotho, Mr David Hamadziripi.