Zanu-PF condemns Operation Dudula's blockade of healthcare access in South Africa

The ruling Zanu-PF party of Zimbabwe has issued a strong critique of Operation Dudula, with its director of information, Farai Marapira, calling the anti-immigrant movement a betrayal of African traditions and a continuation of colonial-era divisions.

Marapira's comments come amid reports of Operation Dudula members blocking suspected foreign nationals from accessing healthcare facilities in South Africa.

Marapira, speaking to IOL, condemned the anti-foreigner movement as an affront to the concept of Ubuntu, which emphasizes community and interconnectedness. He argued that the idea of an "African being called a foreigner anywhere in Africa" is a foreign concept itself, especially when considering that the continent's current borders were artificially imposed during the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885.

"Before that, there was no Dudula, there was no foreigner amongst ourselves. Just different tribes and totems and languages, but in brotherhood," he said.

He further suggested that the well-funded Dudula campaign is "an ideological fulfillment of the Berlin conference" and a modern-day continuation of the European "divide and rule" strategy.

"Of course, the Europeans identified that the easiest way to split Africa is to create divisions. And here we are today," Marapira stated.

"The concept of Dudula is foreign to our traditions, especially of Ubuntu. Furthermore, we cannot continue to impose colonialist borders designed to separate us. We are one Africa stronger in unity than adversity. I question the source of the very well-funded Dudula campaign. We stand for and believe in the One-Africa concept, where an African is home anywhere in Africa. We do not subscribe to the concept of anyone African being called a foreigner anywhere in Africa."

Marapira insisted that the perpetuation of "colonialist-minded value systems stymies and boggles any sensible Pan Africanist".

"Left untethered, such ideologies create false senses of superiority and superhumaness which are an affront to the furtherance of our greater good as Africa.

In July, IOL reported that Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko criticised the vigilante blockages where activists have been blocking state-owned hospital entrances, demanding identification from patients and turning away foreign nationals.

This followed reports of members of Operation Dudula in Gauteng and members of the March and March movement manning the gates of government clinics and hospitals, preventing alleged undocumented foreigners from accessing healthcare.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said the South African government has agreements with some countries where funds are recouped for services provided to foreign nationals in South Africa. For immigrants who walk into hospitals in Gauteng, without any government recommendation, the MEC said they are subject to stipulated fees for medical care.

“Yes, we do have those agreements, and some of those agreements, the countries are paying. But individuals who come on their own accord in the hospitals, they do pay too. There is this notion that everybody who gets there (government hospitals), coming from foreign countries, is not paying, that is not true,” she told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.

“Not everyone is not paying. Like South Africans, some come and do not have money, but we make arrangements even for anyone who comes to our institutions who does not have the R100 to pay. There is no such.

“That is why I always say, people sometimes must stop telling stories that they do not have facts about. They must come so that we are able to explain to them,” said the Health MEC.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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