By Tichaona Katsvamutima
Nearly 200,000 Zimbabweans have returned home from South Africa through government-assisted repatriation and independent arrangements, according to official figures released on Tuesday.
The government disclosed that a cumulative 197,294 Zimbabweans had returned from South Africa, including 42,553 repatriated through government arrangements and another 154,741 who returned independently.
The figures were presented during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe as part of an update on the repatriation and reintegration of Zimbabwean nationals returning from South Africa.
According to the 34th Post-Cabinet Press Briefing, “the repatriation and re-integration of Zimbabwean nationals from South Africa has significantly declined, for both Government-supported returnees and self-repatriates.”
Cabinet said the 42,553 government-assisted returnees comprised 10,475 adult men, 13,631 adult women, 9,001 boys and 9,446 girls.
The figures show that children accounted for 18,447 of those repatriated through government arrangements, underscoring the potential need for education, housing and social support among returning families.
The government also revealed that 700 deportees from South Africa’s Lindela Repatriation Centre had been received at the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre as of September 24.
Some of those deported were convicted prisoners who had been serving sentences in South African correctional facilities and were required to complete the remainder of their sentences in Zimbabwe.
Cabinet said “the involvement of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) remains paramount in the screening and handling process,” given the circumstances surrounding some of the deportees.
The return of Zimbabwean nationals raises questions about employment opportunities, access to accommodation and the availability of social services for people attempting to rebuild their lives after returning from South Africa.
Zimbabwe has long experienced significant migration to South Africa, with many citizens seeking employment and better economic opportunities across the border.
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Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has also assisted 87,012 Malawian nationals travelling through the country on their way back to Malawi.
Cabinet confirmed that “all Malawian nationals have since exited the country and have been fully accounted for.”
The government said it would continue monitoring migration developments and remained prepared to respond to any future increase in the number of returnees.
“Government continues to monitor the situation and is ready to respond to any possible influx of returnees in the future,” the Cabinet statement said.
While authorities report a decline in repatriations, the cumulative number of Zimbabweans returning from South Africa places renewed attention on the government’s reintegration programmes and the economic opportunities available to returning citizens.
