Zimbabwe Politicians Debate Covering Medical Costs of Zimbabweans in South Africa

• Zimbabwean politicians debated over whether the Zimbabwean government should settle the medical bills of Zimbabweans in South Africa
• This comes after illegal foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans, have been removed from public healthcare facilities by civic groups
• A Zimbabwean cabinet minister said the government won't pay for its citizens, while an opposition leader called for a deeper assessment
• Wits University migration expert, Professor Loren Landau, spoke to Briefly News about the impact of migration on public healthcare

Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

JOHANNESBURG — Zimbabwean politicians have entered the debate on whether the Zimbabwean government should pay the medical bills of Zimbabweans in the country illegally.

According to eNCA, Zimbabwe's minister of justice, Ziyambi Ziyambi, told its parliament that it is not the government's duty to assist Zimbabweans in South Africa. However, opposition leader Tendai Bityi held a different view and said that a deeper assessment is needed.

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Ziyambi said that if a South African comes to stay in Zimbabwe, the South African government doesn't send money for that person to be treated in Zimbabwe. He added that South Africans mandated to work in Zimbabwe must have medical insurance to be treated.

What did Tendai Biti say?

However, Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe's former Minister of Finance and opposition figure, said that the Constitution of Zimbabwe protects and gives rights to citizens. One of the rights given by the Constitution is the right to health. He said the right to health must be enjoyed by any citizen, whether in Zimbabwe or outside Zimbabwe.

"The long-term solution is for the ANC (African National Congress) and South Africa to take a bold stance towards ZANU-PF so that there is a permanent solution to the political crisis that is in Zimbabwe," he said.

Biti said that as long as the ANC considers ZANU-PF a comrade and is not prepared to confront it, the situation where South Africa is effectively subsidizing the Zimbabwean crisis will persist.

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South Africa's healthcare crisis

Since June, Operation Dudula and March and March have removed foreign nationals from public healthcare facilities. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) affirmed that illegal immigrants' right to access to healthcare in South Africa is affirmed by the Constitution.

Operation Dudula said that it was responding to calls from South Africa to address the healthcare crisis. Dudula's president, Zandile Dabula, said that the organisation uncovered illegal activities in public healthcare facilities. She alleged that foreign nationals transport medication to their home countries and sell it there.

Briefly News speaks to migration expert

Professor Loren Landau, the South African Research Chair in Mobility and the Politics of Difference at Wits University's African Centre for Migration & Society, spoke to Briefly News. Landau said that migrants are not in the country to extract value.

"They are here to work. And like everyone else, they pay VAT, contribute to UIF, and provide services, run businesses, or enable other businesses to be more profitable.  The challenge to South African public services is not due to immigrants," he said.

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Landau added that while population growth has put pressure on some clinics, schools, and housing markets, these pressures are overwhelmingly from shifts in the citizen population. Without adequate support or capacity, services can not keep up.

What did South Africans say?

Netizens on Facebook shared their views.

Thande Thandeka said:

"Helen Suzman's Foundation must take the Zim government to court."

Motsok Modisane said:

"They, too, including their presidents, are going overseas for medical assistance."

Bax MakaNgcwele Noqekwa said:

"Swaziland and Botswana are the only governments that care about their people."

Augustine Joseph Joshua Rupere asked:

"How can they cover in SA if they can't cover in Zimbabwe?"

Rosylyn Bere Maguchu said:

"They can't even cover those in Zimbabwe."

Migration expert weighs in on healthcare crisis

In a related article, Briefly News reported that migration expert Professor Loren Landau weighed in on campaigns by groups like Operation Dudula and March and March. This was after Operation Dudfula and Mach and March had been removing foreign nationals from Pubic healthcare facilities.

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Speaking to Briefly News, Landau said that targeted foreign nationals face short-term material and psychological hardship, which can be disruptive to them, their families, employers, and communities. He also said that private actors who are determining the rights of foreign nationals disempower the state and erode constitutional protections.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News