Very good and important point of view. Hope that Zuma, Cosatu and everyone else says the correct things. At this stage it's true - just make the right statements and that will save a whole population held hostage by the political process in Zimbabwe. Sad story of moving from one oppressive regime to another, and all signs of ultimate freedom turning out to be a mirage.

I agree with the article but I don't think Zuma/SA will act cause when it comes to the point they never do. Look at SA's role in the UN securitycouncil. I think the only question is how much SA leaders get paid from Mugabe in blooddiamonds or something like that. Last week there was a conference on refugees in Kampala. SA hosts most refugees in Africa, most of them from Zimbabwe, but did Zuma go to this conference while the main causer of his refugeeproblem, Mugabe, was there? NO !!

rmkooistra, Zimbabweans do not have the biggest refuggee problem in Africa or South Africa. Many Zimbabweans have blood relatives in South Africa. NGO's have tried repeatedly to abuse this issue. There is just no facts, but more anglo white propaganda against Zimbabwean.

Zimbabwean Doctors, Lectureres, Teachers, Nurses, Engineers are now directly recruited from Zimbabwe to work in South Africa.

Zimbabweans, Malawians and Mozambiquenes have been coming to South Africa since the Gold mines were discovered. This was done legally and under white rule. So, shut up, do not exaggerate this issue. My own late uncle lived in South Africa and mined there and had a family there.

There is a concerted propaganda directed at Zimbabwean people. Migration in the "old" South Africa was welcomed and appreciated. Mines required cheap labor. So many comments lack historica facts.

Maybe we should start saying white people were really black, until they were bleached for bad behaviour!!! Get your facts straight...

Anybody who is in doubt about the number of Zimbabwean refugees in SA and their horrendous life conditions simply goes to google and will find almost 2 million websites with evidence.

Zuma's only comment on the current crisis is that he is "very concerned". Concerned about what? That Mugabe isn't living up to his obligations or that Tsvangarai refuses to be a powerless figurehead? A true statesman would make his position clear and not hide behind ambigious words. I expect nothing further from Zuma because he is a nothing.

Hej Alistir - Maybe he sholud start by standing up to people who grabbed and are holding all the land in his own country. Charity begins at home

Phiri learn to read man. Your response of, "Zimbabweans do not have the biggest refugee problem in Africa or South Africa" was just pulled from mid-air. Who said Zimbabweans had refugees? Also, how can Zimbabweans have refugees in South Africa? However, Rmkooistra is 100% correct that South Africa hosts the most refugees in the whole of Southern Africa and for your further information Phiri, Robert Mugabe has single handed created the MOST refugees in Southern Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Chad and Sudan host the highest number of refugees in Eastern and Central Africa each hosting at least 250,000 people, with Chad and Sudan being also creators of refugees. Just this year alone about a million people have been forced from their homes in the DRC. By the end of September 2009 the combined displaced and refugee population in Eastern and Central Africa stood at 12 million people. Who is creating this? Your own black people, the dictators you support. Who suffers mostly? The women, children and elderly. What struck me most was seeing a sea of mostly women with collar bones sticking out a mile and children with teary eyes and mucous running down their noses covering their mouths and cheeks showing just untold strife, hunger and suffering in the DRC. For your information Phiri, those who went to work in the gold mines of South Africa from various African countries were NEVER refugees. They went willingly carrying their stupas ( thumb prints) to earn money for their families and were able to return home without persecution. Isn't that right Phiri? And so was your uncle so don't make up stuff.

Krjs120, you are not the only person who can read, it is what you read into an article that separates you from me.

A lot is made about “Zimbabwe Refugees” in South Africa. But the fact is Zimbabweans also have a large number of relatives who happen to be South African. It is not uncommon for people to move else during crisis. Most so-called Refugees from Zimbabwe are merely in transit. But to make a bold comment that they are a major refugee in Southern Africa is incorrect.

Today, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola regularly come to Zimbabwe to recruit for teachers, Doctors, mining labor, Engineers, Lawyers, civil servants etc Are all these people refugees? I think not! By the way I have myself an on-going consultancy position in South Africa and I travel there monthly! Stop the Anglo white lies!! How about the abuse of refugee issues by NGO’s controlled by white anglos? We must get ride of Mugabe, but we cannot lie about every situation in Zimbabwe!!!

Phiri I see you now have your " on-going consultancy position in South Africa." As a head-in-the-sand, arse-in-the-air, perpetrator of and perpetuation of racism society? Oh please, not in teaching. To you every occasion of and everything you muck upon, you blame the white community but just look at your attitude towards your Zimbabwean refugees that you term "so-called" and "are merely in transit visiting relatives." What? You need your head examined. It just goes to show what pieces of shit you are towards one another. Your dictators just met in Kampala agreeing to throw a few crumbs to the refugees in their respective countries whilst creating more refugees for the other. There are 12 million people as refugees between those dictators who sat there grinning like Cheshire cats but as guilty as sin with Mugabe the guiltiest in Southern Africa. Everyone of those 12 million people are living in deplorable conditions at the mercy of humanitarian organizations for shelter and sustenance and waiting for the time they can return home and for many of them life will never be the same in the worst of ways. Your problem is typical of all you stupid ignorant turds. You do not want to hear that you are committing the atrocities on one another including that the NGOs manipulating Zimbabweans in South Africa are black organizers. The name Elliot Moyo does not sound "Anglo" to me. You also talk of professional people being "recruited" as if everything is hunky dorry in Zimbabwe. Who are you bloody kidding? People are fed up with Mugabe and are shaking the dust from beneath their Bata Zimfeet and taking off and saying 'adios piece of crap," facing unsure landings of exploitation as refugees or illegals rather than being killed at home. It is called fleeing, dumb ass.

Krjs120, as bad as things are in Zimbabwe, you forget that Zimbabwe still has the largest number of educated people per population in Southern Africa. Literacy rates are high in Zimbabwe. NGO’s have come under the lens in South Africa regarding the way they have handled Zimbabwean refugees. It is way too easy to exaggerate things.

Telling the truth does not mean you condone the misrule of Mugabe. The truth of the matter is that most white commentators lack credibility in SADC. This is also true of Ian Khama, who people may view as less Africa and prone to Anglophobic behaviors (Yes, I expect loads comments about this). White minority commentators are seen as wanting the spoil system the once enjoyed (and continue to enjoy). And also white colonial types have no concept of representative gov’t that is now in place in most SADC. Therefore, it is common for white colonial types to be calling for help from Europe or USA, which most SADC members would care for.

Phiri - crap, crap, crap. Mr Ian Khama "Anglo phobic?" Are you mad? YOU, idiot, are "Anglo phobic." Zimbabwe having " the largest educated people in Africa?" What have you got to show for it? Idiots like you? Those who are educated are being throttled by you thugs leaving the country to be run by you morons who only know how to meter violence. You Phiri are a phony pretending to be for the people when in actual fact you are a stinking racist Mugabe goon. Yes go ahead and deny it, but you ain't fooling me.

KJRS120 well said!! I am just chuckling -u know if Africa would get people from other communities on board what a blessing it would be but always its this Anglo C..p all the time - it has nothing to do with it it is about having some GREY MATTER!!! Not Sewerage Matter !!!! i am sure the neighbouring countries are sick of the zim problem and if they just say anything against Zim oh my all the sewerage starts flowing!!!!!

N/a Zimbabwe has two sewer systems. The one is the Mugabe sewer that has seen to it the whole country is infected with Zanu_PF, killing. maiming, malnourishing and taking over from the mosquitoes in sucking the blood of the Zimbabweans. The second is the sewer system of Mugabe raping the country of its money so much so that the sewer pipes are rotten and spewing faeces into dams. The people are relieving themselves in the bushes and adding that faecal matter to the dams which in turn infects the drinking water system killing and infecting the people with cholera. Perhaps now that the SADC troika have made Mugabe " climb down'' from his lofty tree, lets hope more is done to relieve the insanity.

Krjs120, I maybe a "phony" but certainly nobody's fool. Zimbabweans know one thing and that is never trust a whiteman!! They came to our country talked the good talk of democracy, good governance..etc but in the end they became the worst bastards around town and the most dictorial leaders Southern Africa has ever had!! Not even Mugabe can be compared to Ian Smith, Botha, Vorster, the French in Africa...They were the worst dictators Africa ever had!!!

If saying that makes me a racists...then I would rather be a racist!!!

Phiri, I am glad you know that you are a phony but contrary to your belief about yourself, a phony is everybody's fool. I know that all those white people you mentioned were dictators and if I may add, bloody stinking murderous racists. So in what way is Mugabe any better that those men? Oh yes I forgot, Mugabe is black that is why his crimes go well with you. You see the difference between you and I is that I do not see colour in wickedness. I see the wicked actions of a person but also believe in fair judgment. To you, all white people are "bastards," but to me all black people are not bastards. All those of you, whether white or black, who support Mugabe and his government of suppression, cruelty and murder, are certainly bastards, idiots and morons because through your actions millions of other Zimbabweans have been subjected to untold suffering, particularly the very young and the very old who in their helplessness have to fend for themselves. How many tattered and neglected kids roam your streets? Why are they not in school? And you think you can tell me Mugabe is any better? Take a bloody hike.

Phiri, you say that if that is being a racist, then you would rather be a racist. Don't be so silly man, you need forgiveness man, you my christian brother should know that, not loving your Christian brothers is a sin, and sin cannot enter heaven, you of all people should know that.