Mashaba Calls for Sanctions on Zanu-PF Leaders Amid Zimbabwean Exodus from South Africa
Former SA mayor Herman Mashaba urges international sanctions on Zanu-PF leaders as Zimbabweans report feeling unwelcome in South Africa, prompting growing numbers to return home.
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Former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba has called on the international community to impose sanctions on leaders of Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF, amid a growing exodus of Zimbabweans from South Africa. Speaking out on the changing sentiment toward Zimbabwean migrants, Mashaba highlighted rising tensions and perceptions of unwelcomeness in the host country.
His appeal follows reports of Zimbabweans voluntarily returning home, citing hostile social conditions in South Africa. In a recent account published by BizNews, Zimbabwean writer Cathy Buckle documented testimonies from migrants who said, “We are no longer wanted here.” The statements reflect a shift in sentiment, as many Zimbabweans who had long resided in South Africa now consider repatriation.
Mashaba, a vocal critic of Zanu-PF, argued that targeted sanctions could pressure Zimbabwe’s leadership to improve governance and economic conditions, potentially reducing outward migration. He emphasized that continued political and economic instability in Zimbabwe under Zanu-PF rule remains a root driver of regional displacement.
The call for sanctions underscores broader regional concerns about governance and migration dynamics. While South Africa has historically hosted large numbers of Zimbabwean migrants fleeing economic hardship, changing local attitudes and policy enforcement may be influencing return patterns. Neither the South African nor Zimbabwean governments have issued official statements in response to the reported trend or Mashaba’s appeal.