The Department of Home Affairs has welcomed the withdrawal of the application filed in court by African Amity NPC and Zimbabwe Permit Holders Association in which the organisations challenged the Minister of Home Affairs over the decision not to renew the ZEP permit.
According to a statement by the DHA, the Zimbabwe Permit Holders Association lawyer, Simba Chitando withdrew the legal challenge on 14 June 2022.
The DHA said it was happy that at long last sense seems to have prevailed.
“As indicated before, the Department’s doors are always open for constructive engagement with the affected Zimbabwean nationals,” the DHA said in the statement.
About 178 000 ZEP permit holders whose permits expired on 31 December 2021 are expected to apply for other permits that suits their situation before the 12 months grace period which ends on 31 December 2022. Those who fail to secure new permits will be required to go to their country or risk being deported.
Meanwhile, the DHA called on those affected to apply for new permits to continue to stay legally in the country.
