CLAIM: The government of Zimbabwe is offering free transportation to its citizens based in South Africa who want to return home.
SOURCE: WhatsApp audio
VERDICT: MISLEADING, The government of Zimbabwe is not offering free transportation to Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa who want to return home.
An audio recording has been making the rounds on WhatsApp encouraging Zimbabweans migrants in South Africa who are holders of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) and want to return home at the end of the year to join a particular WhatsApp group and register their details.
The audio claims the Zimbabwean government will offer free transport for those who wnt to return home.
“There will be buses ferrying people back home, those who are willing get join the group in order for them to register and also give details of the kind of belongings you want to send back home also providing the final destination address,” the audio of an unidentified woman claimed.
“You will get more information once you’re in the group, it’s unfortunate because September buses are now fully booked so the only remaining buses are for between October and December,”
However, two weeks ago, South African Foreign Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi extended the ZEP by a further six months to 30 June 2023.
In an interview with FactCheckZW, Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson, Ngqabutho Mabhena said there is no way possible that the Zimbabwean government can offer such services for free.
“This is misleading, the Zimbabwe govenment does not provide free transport to anyone, we are not aware of such and besides, the grace period was extended to 30th June 2023,” Mabhena said.
