By Fanuel Viriri
Zimbabwe has deported 29 undocumented Mozambican nationals.
According to authorities, the Mozambicans were intercepted in Chipinge, Mutare and Harare and found to be in the country illegally.
Of the deported group, 28 are boys aged between 14 and 18, while the remaining person is a visually impaired man.
Authorities said some of the minors were engaged in informal street vending, while one was assisting the adult in begging activities.
The deported Mozambicans are originally from Chimoio, Manica, Dombe, Muxúngue and Chibabava.
This is the second group of Mozambican nationals to be deported from Zimbabwe since the beginning of the year. In a similar recent operation, another 39 Mozambican citizens were repatriated by Zimbabwean authorities.
The deportation highlights the continued movement of undocumented Mozambican nationals into Zimbabwe, particularly through border communities in Manicaland, which has longstanding social and economic links with neighbouring Mozambique.
The presence of minors among the deportees also raises questions about child protection, access to documentation and the circumstances that led the teenagers to leave Mozambique and engage in informal economic activities in Zimbabwe.
Chipinge and Mutare, both in Manicaland province, have historically experienced significant cross-border movement because of their proximity to Mozambique. Harare, meanwhile, attracts migrants seeking opportunities in informal trading and other forms of employment.
Zimbabwean immigration authorities have previously warned foreign nationals against entering or remaining in the country without the required documentation, while also carrying out operations targeting undocumented migrants.
However, the deportation of minors presents additional humanitarian and child-protection concerns, particularly where children are found working or living without parents or legal guardians.
