VOA标准英语 South Africa Adopts New Visa Policy for Zimbabweans

South Africa will soon waive¹ visa requirements for Zimbabweans and grant them special permits to remain in the country for six months.

South African deputy Home Affairs Minister Mulusi Gigaba says his government has accepted the need for a new policy approach toward Zimbabweans.

"We have taken an important decision which acknowledges that migration² patterns between South Africa and Zimbabwe have probably changed permanently," Gigaba explained.

Several years ago the government said it thought as many as three million undocumented Zimbabweans were living in South Africa. But that figure may now be much higher following the catastrophic decline in the country's economy in the past twelve months and a cholera³ epidemic⁴ that has affected⁵ some ninety thousand people and claimed over four thousand lives.

It is thought that at the peak of the recent influx⁶ about two months ago, thousands of Zimbabweans were entering the country each day.

The new dispensation for Zimbabweans means that for at least six months, they will not only be permitted to live in South Africa, they will also be allowed to work. Home Affairs Deputy Director General Jackson MacKay says, if necessary, that period could be extended.

"After six months we will review and assess the situation again in terms of what is happening back home in Zimbabwe, what is the situation; and if there is still a compelling reason for us to have a special dispensation we will extend that for a further six months," MacKay said.

The net effect of the new arrangement is that undocumented Zimbabweans who are currently in South Africa, will no longer be subject to arrest and deportation⁷. They, and others arriving at the country's borders, will be able to obtain the special permits granting them six month's stay.

But Gigaba says the implementation⁹ is dependent on setting up a complex inter-ministerial structure to manage Zimbabwean migrants.

"So that the police services are going to be involved, the provincial¹⁰ and local governments are going to be involved, we are all going to work together as part of one structure to try and implement⁸ this decision," Gigaba said.

MacKay adds that over and above the inter-departmental cooperation, the government will also have to set up new offices and systems.

"It is going to need for us to have registration¹¹ centers in every province. Its going be a huge exercise in getting the IT systems set up to deal with that," MacKay said.

The new policy is a major change and comes after severe criticism by activist¹² groups the government was failing its responsibility toward Zimbabwean's forced to flee their own country to escape grinding poverty.

1 waive   

vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等)

参考例句：

• I'll record to our habitat office waive our claim immediately.我立即写信给咱们的总公司提出放弃索赔。
• In view of the unusual circumstances,they agree to waive their requirement.鉴于特殊情况，他们同意放弃他们的要求。

2 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

3 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

4 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

7 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

8 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

9 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

10 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

11 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

12 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。