(By Ngoni Chanakira, Juru Growth Point, July 18, 2011) - More than 25 shabbily dressed and visibly hungry refugees from Ethiopia are passing through Zimbabwe almost daily using the Juru Growth Point Highway.
The refugees, old men, women and children, say they are en-route to South Africa where they "hope" to settle soon, investigations reveal.
A trip accompanying the refugees on parts of their long journey by Radio VOP, showed that the individuals come from very "poor families in Ethiopia are unemployed and are political individuals who have virtually nothing to lose from their quick departure".
They cannot speak English and use a translator whom they pay about US$2 daily in each country travelled through. The Zimbabwean translator was known simply as "Billy".
Billy, it later emerged after asking several questions, comes from a broken home in Mozambique.
A trip accompanying the refugees on parts of their long journey by Radio VOP, showed that the individuals come from very "poor families in Ethiopia are unemployed and are political individuals who have virtually nothing to lose from their quick departure".
They cannot speak English and use a translator whom they pay about US$2 daily in each country travelled through. The Zimbabwean translator was known simply as "Billy".
Billy, it later emerged after asking several questions, comes from a broken home in Mozambique.
The witty boy had "falsely" informed the refugees that he could speak English and, therefore, could take them "safely" across Zimbabwe to South Africa where he would pass them over to yet another translator based there.
Little did they know that for "witty" Billy this was full time work since he is unemployed in Mozambique.
"They share everything they can get their hands on," Billy told Radio VOP in an exclusive interview when the refugees had stopped for some water at Blue Ridge Shopping Complex along the highway. Read more »
Little did they know that for "witty" Billy this was full time work since he is unemployed in Mozambique.
"They share everything they can get their hands on," Billy told Radio VOP in an exclusive interview when the refugees had stopped for some water at Blue Ridge Shopping Complex along the highway. Read more »
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