The Herald (Harare)
22 June 2009
Harare — ZIMBABWE will continue to host refugees and all those who need protection as long as they recognise and respect the laws of the country, a Cabinet minister has said.
Speaking at World Refugee Day commemorations in Harare on Saturday, Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa said it was Government's position that no refugee or asylum seeker would be forcibly returned to his or her country of origin.
"Zimbabwe will continue to be home for all who need protection as long as they recognise and respect the laws of this country. As a Government, not only have we guaranteed refugee's physical safety, but have also continued to make tremendous efforts in ensuring refugee protection and well-being through the provision of material assistance, which includs shelter, food, water and sanitation.
"Let me reiterate that it is the Government's position that no refugee or asylum seeker is returned to his or her country of origin involuntarily as enshrined in the principle of non-refoulement," she said.
She said the country, which is a signatory to the 1952 Geneva Conventions and the 1969 Organisation of African Union Convention, would continue to adhere to the universal principles concerning fair and effective asylum procedures.
"The Refugee Act provides the legal framework on which our status determination process and protection for refugees is based. Ever since 1983, the country has been and shall continue to be a safe haven for refugees fleeing from civil wars in Africa. This is because Zimbabwe realises that refugees are real people with real needs", said Minister Mpariwa.
She, however, called for a concerted effort in protecting and looking after refugees, saying: "It is no secret that protecting and looking after refugees is a shared responsibility. The Government will continue to assist with the little resources available and all stakeholders need to play their part in assisting Government. I would like to acknowledge the material and financial assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Christian Care and other cooperating partners for meeting refugees' real needs and basic human needs such as shelter, food, health care, water and sanitation, among others."
In a speech read on his behalf by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees resident representative in the country Dr Marcellin Hepie, UNHCR's commissioner for refugees Mr Antonio Guterres urged people to respect refugees, saying there were also people with real needs.
"Refugees are not faceless statistics. They are real people just like you and me who, through no fault of their own, have lost everything during conflicts and persecution. We need to show them love and care," he said.
He pointed out that conflicts and persecution worldwide have uprooted 46 million people.
World Refugee Day is set aside by the United Nations on June 20 every year to highlight the situation of millions of refugees and other displaced around the world, and their urgent needs, from water, and shelter to protection and tolerance.
This year's theme was "Real People, Real Needs".
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To protect refugees is laudable!
But why keep quiet over what criminal Mugabe did to force over 4 million Zimbos to seek refuge in neighbouring countries?
As much as a minister wants to protect refugees, the actions of illegitimate presidents provoking mass exodus should as much be denounced.
Tyrant Mugabe must be brought to justice!
Probably Mengistu will give a party today.
What utter hypocrisy! After causing millions of Zimbabweans to be refugees, they are now champions of those who need protection. If the Zimbabwean government has such empathy why be the cause of so much suffering? I say to minister Paurina Mpariwa "All you know are the right words but lip service and until you create conditions whereby those Zimbabweans who are refugees can return home, shut your face because you have the power to do so."
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
As if ANYONE who was a refugee would seek asylum in Zimbabwe unless they had already exchanged Dollars/Euros w/ Bloodstained Bob!
How many Zimbabweans are refugees now?
As if Zimbabwe is "hosting" ANY refugees who are not political criminals from other countries? How many Zimbabweans are refugees in neighboring countries right now?
What a laugh! About all the Herald has ever been good for - their hypocracy is of such a degree it's laughable!