GOVERNMENT has so far managed to assist 21 women return from Kuwait and an equal number is being looked after at a shelter for run-away maids in the Arab country awaiting repatriation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development yesterday.
But as Government is helping the Zimbabweans return home, it is feared 90 more could be on their way to Kuwait after being duped by unscrupulous agents to secure visas.
“The ministry has established that 165 visas were processed by unscrupulous Zimbabwean agents working in cahoots with registered Kuwait agencies. The Kuwait authorities have also stated that 90 of these 165 visa recipients have not yet entered Kuwait,” it said.
“It therefore entails that so far about 75 Zimbabwean citizens were lured into Kuwait under false pretext when it comes to remuneration and conditions of service although they were fully aware that they were going to work in the domestic service industry. These people were also misled by the agencies that it would be possible for them to transfer jobs after a few months of arrival in the Gulf emirate.”
The ministry said 26 more women held in homes in Kuwait indicated to the Zimbabwean Embassy in that country that they wanted assistance to return home. “The ministry further updates that 21 of our citizens are back in the country and a further 21 are being sheltered at a Kuwaiti shelter for run-away maids.
“Our embassy in Kuwait has further pointed out that 26 of our nationals have called for assistance as they are still being held in Kuwaiti homes,” it said.
The ministry said with the help of the Zimbabwean Embassy in Kuwait, it continues to help Zimbabweans in distress in that country as and when they come forward.
It thanked the Kuwaiti government and its embassy in Harare for “the good co-operation extended to us and our citizens in resolving this matter”.
“Zimbabwe and the State of Kuwait enjoy excellent bilateral relations. Since independence, Zimbabwe has benefited from soft loans and grants from the State of Kuwait. The funds were used to support various programmes in the transport, energy, agriculture and infrastructure development sectors.”
It has since emerged that the Kuwait government issued 180 “Article 20 visas” meant for domestic service industry.
Article 20 visas are exclusively for the domestic service industry and are not transferable.
This means that a person who enters Kuwait under such a visa cannot be employed in another industry.-State Media