Defending Our Citizens, Upholding Ubuntu: Zimbabwe Must Lead with Dignity in the Face of Dudula Hostility

By Regina Pasipanodya

In recent months, Zimbabweans living in South Africa have faced a disturbing wave of hostility.

Operation Dudula, a vigilante group masquerading as a grassroots movement, has intensified its attack on undocumented migrants, focusing on Zimbabweans with alarming accuracy.

Our citizens are being denied access to public hospitals and subjected to verbal and physical abuse in a country that once stood alongside us in the fight against apartheid.

This situation is not just a humanitarian crisis. It tests Zimbabwe’s diplomatic strength, its moral leadership in the region, and its commitment to protecting its people, wherever they may be.

Historical Bonds and Contemporary Betrayals

Zimbabwe and South Africa share more than a border.

We share bloodlines, liberation histories, and a vision of African unity built in the fires of colonial resistance.

During apartheid, Zimbabwe was a safe haven for South African freedom fighters.

Zimbabwe provided refuge, education, and dignity—not because it was wealthy, but because it stood firm on its principles.

“I am because we are.”

Today, however, this principle of ubuntu is under threat. Operation Dudula’s message is not only anti-migrant, but it is also anti-African.

It uses economic frustration to justify exclusion and blames Zimbabweans for systemic failures that are not their responsibility.

What Can—and Must—Zimbabwe Do?

As a sovereign nation and a responsible member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Zimbabwe cannot remain passive.

Our citizens abroad are not expendable.

They represent our resilience, and their safety must be a top priority.

Here are five strategic actions the Government of Zimbabwe can take to respond quickly and effectively:

1. Diplomatic Engagement with Pretoria

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must urgently kickstart talks with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). While ZANU PF has rightfully condemned Dudula’s actions as a betrayal of ubuntu, this must be followed by formal diplomatic pressure.

Zimbabwe should ask for:

– A joint task force to monitor and respond to xenophobic incidents

– Clear public commitments from the ANC

-led government to uphold constitutional protections for all residents, no matter their nationality.

– A review of healthcare access policies to ensure Zimbabweans are not denied emergency or essential treatment.

2. Consular Protection and Legal Aid

Our embassies and consulates should be more than symbolic offices; they must be lifelines.

The Zimbabwean Consulate in Johannesburg should:

– Set up a 24-hour hotline for distressed citizens.

– Send mobile legal aid clinics to high-risk areas.

– Collaborate with South African civil society groups to document abuses and offer support.

This is not charity—it is a responsibility of the state.

3. Regional Advocacy through SADC and AU

Zimbabwe must use its position within SADC and the African Union to frame this crisis as a regional issue.

Xenophobia threatens the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), disrupts labor mobility, and damages trust among member states.

President E.D. Mnangagwa, as an experienced statesman, is well-placed to:

– Call for a SADC summit on migration and xenophobia.

– Suggest a regional protocol on migrant rights and protections.

– Urge AU observers to monitor hotspots and report violations.

4. Repatriation and Reintegration Support

Not all Zimbabweans in South Africa want to return, but those who do must be welcomed with dignity. The government should:

– Broaden the ZimStart program to help returnees with housing, healthcare, and job placement.

– Focus on recognizing skills of Zimbabweans trained or employed in South Africa.

– Offer tax breaks to businesses that hire repatriated professionals.

This turns a crisis into an opportunity and shows Zimbabwe’s commitment to inclusive growth.

5. Strategic Communication and Diaspora Engagement

The government must counter the harmful narratives spread by Dudula with facts, empathy, and vision.

Through platforms like ZBC, Zimba Wave News, ZimEye, and diaspora radio, we must:

– Highlight the contributions of Zimbabweans to South Africa’s economy and society.

– Share stories of resilience, entrepreneurship, and solidarity.

– Reinforce the message that migration is not a crime; it is a human reality.

Diaspora communities should also have the opportunity to speak for themselves.

The Ministry of Information can support diaspora-led media and advocacy efforts that promote unity and challenge hatred.

A Call for Moral Leadership

Zimbabwe’s response must be strong, but not inflammatory.

We must reject violence, but not silence. Operation Dudula thrives on fear and division; our government must respond with dignity, diplomacy, and determination.

The struggle for African unity did not end with independence.

It continues in our hospitals, border posts, and public discussions.

Zimbabwe must lead—not only for its citizens, but also for the heart of Southern Africa.

In moments like this, a nation’s true character comes to light.

Zimbabwe has faced sanctions, droughts, and economic challenges—but it has never abandoned its people.

Now, as our citizens experience terror across the Limpopo, we must rise—not with fists, but with policy, principle, and pride.

With its legacy of liberation and its commitment to justice, Zimbabwe must be at the forefront.