By Thabisani Dube
HARARE — Nearly 200,000 Zimbabweans have returned from South Africa through Government-supported repatriation arrangements and independent returns, following anti-migrant tensions and immigration enforcement operations in the neighbouring country.
Cabinet has noted an update on the repatriation and reintegration of Zimbabwean nationals returning from South Africa, presented by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe.
According to the update, 42 553 Zimbabweans had returned through Government arrangements as at October 6, 2026, while a cumulative 154 741 had returned independently.
The Government-supported returnees comprised 10 475 men, 13,631 women, 9 001 boys and 9 446 girls.
Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Prof Paul Mavhima, said government had noted that the number of returnees had declined significantly across both categories.
The return movement gathered momentum in 2026 amid anti-migrant protests and tensions in South Africa, prompting the Zimbabwean Government to announce arrangements to facilitate the safe return of citizens wishing to come home.
South African authorities also intensified immigration enforcement and repatriation operations targeting undocumented foreign nationals, contributing to a wider movement of migrants returning to their countries of origin.
The return process has presented challenges, including the need to verify identities, arrange transport and provide assistance to people arriving at border facilities.
As part of the reintegration effort, Zimbabwe has also been identifying skills acquired by returning citizens to help connect them with potential opportunities at home.
In July, the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development reported that it had registered 15 000 skilled returnees in a database intended to support the identification and deployment of available skills in the domestic economy.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet update said 700 deportees from South Africa’s Lindela Repatriation Centre had been received at the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre as at September 24 2026.
The Joint Operations Command continues to play a key role in screening and handling deportees, some of whom had been serving prison sentences in South Africa and are required to complete the remainder of their sentences in Zimbabwe.
The update also reported that 87 012 Malawian nationals returning home had received Government assistance while transiting through Zimbabwe. All have since left the country and been accounted for.
Government said it continued to monitor developments and remained prepared to respond to any possible future increase in the number of returning nationals.
