Harare, (New Ziana)-The ongoing repatriation of Zimbabweans illegally living in South Africa has topped 111 887, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Pfungwa Kunaka said on Tuesday.
He told the joint Senate Thematic Committee on Peace and Security and Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans Affairs that more than 70 percent of the total number of citizens who have returned home were women and children.
The figure relates to repatriations covering the period May 28 to July 20, 2026.
“The ongoing national repatriation initiative managed the return of 111 887 citizens from South Africa between 28 May 2026 and 20 July 2026. Women and children are constituting more than 70 percent of the returnees. The number of Zimbabwean nationals requiring repatriation and reintegration assistance from South Africa and the Beitbridge Reception Centre has placed additional pressure on reception, transportation, health and other essential support services,” Kunaka said.
In response to the wave of anti-migrant protests and xenophobic violence in South Africa, the government activated a whole of government and society approach involving Ministries, departments, development partners, the private sector, faith-based organisations and humanitarian organisations to ensure the safe return of affected nationals.
Kunaka said at the Beitbridge Repatriation Centre, returning residents are given shelter, food, water, sanitation and health attention, psychosocial support as well as transportation to their final destinations.
He said the repatriation is, however, not adequately funded for it to be smooth.
Appearing before the same joint committee, chief director for the Civil Protection Department, Nathan Nkomo said the country is expecting more nationals to return from neighbouring South Africa.
“If there are two million people coming back and we are at 111 000, there is still a lot of work to be done and there are a lot of resources to be injected into the whole programme,” he told the Senators.
New Ziana
