The changes are meant to curb violations in visa-applications and habitual overstaying.

Mutsa Murenje, the MDC-T South Africa secretary for policy and research, told our weekly Hidden Story program the shift in policy will affect Zimbabweans as they seek political and economic refuge in the neighbouring country.

He said the new regulations will affect foreign national wishing to work, study or run businesses. Under the new immigration laws, exceptional skills permits would no longer exist. Under the old policy, sportsmen and women, artistes, medical practitioners, engineers and pilots could enter the country on an exceptional skills permit, regardless of whether they had secured employment or not.

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