King Misuzulu: Enforcing immigration laws is not xenophobia, he says during Zimbabwe visit

King Misuzulu kaZwelithini said enforcing immigration laws should not be equated with xenophobia during an official visit to Zimbabwe, arguing that sovereign states have the right to regulate who enters their territory and that the central challenge across Africa is governance.

Visit to Zimbabwe used to illustrate compliance

The AmaZulu King made the remarks while meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa during his visit to Zimbabwe. He said his arrival there demonstrated his point: “As I arrived here in Zimbabwe today, I presented my passport to the immigration authorities. My passport was stamped. I declared my nationality. I declared the purpose of my visit. I informed the authorities where I would be residing during my stay.”

He added that following immigration procedures did not demean him but “honoured the sovereignty of Zimbabwe.”

Distinguishing lawful migration from criminality

King Misuzulu emphasised the need to keep a clear distinction between lawful migration and illegal entry, saying: “The distinction between illegal immigration and lawful migration must remain absolutely clear.” He stated that issues such as “unlawful entry, document fraud, organised human trafficking and deliberate violations of immigration legislation are matters of criminal justice and public administration, not questions of race or nationality.”

On xenophobia, sovereignty and African identity

The King warned against a polarised debate in which concerns about illegal immigration are labelled as xenophobia or where foreign nationals are blamed for all community problems. “Neither position serves Africa,” he said.

He framed African identity as extending beyond colonial borders but argued that shared history should not be used to override immigration laws: “These histories remind us that African identity has never been confined to colonial borders. Our shared ancestry should inspire mutual respect. It should never be used to justify disregarding the immigration laws of sovereign nations.”

Governance, not xenophobia, must be tackled

King Misuzulu said the “true challenge” facing African countries was governance rather than xenophobia. He listed governance failings he said contributed to migration tensions, including poor border management, documentation system failures, corruption, human trafficking, exploitation of undocumented workers and weak cooperation between governments.

He insisted that expecting governments to administer immigration laws was not hatred but “an expectation of good governance.”

Proposed principles for managed mobility

The King called for African governments to adopt what he termed the “Harare Principles on Responsible African Mobility”, aimed at promoting lawful, secure and managed migration while strengthening cooperation between states. He said: “Africa does not need open borders without accountability. Africa needs lawful mobility. Africa needs secure mobility. Africa needs managed mobility.” He added: “Africa must never choose between compassion and order. We must uphold both.”

On treatment of lawful migrants

King Misuzulu said people who enter legally, comply with laws and contribute positively should be treated with dignity, while unlawful actions should be treated as matters of law enforcement and public administration.