Staff Reporter
HARARE — Skilled Zimbabweans returning home from South Africa, following reported cases of anti-migrant violence, are eligible to apply for jobs in the public service as the Government seeks to harness the skills and innovation they bring back into the country.
More than 115,000 Zimbabweans have returned from South Africa due to anti-immigrant tensions and intensified enforcement that began in late May 2026.
Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Rosemary Mugoko said the Government was keen to integrate skilled returnees into the economy and utilise their expertise in areas where their skills are needed.
Mugoko made these remarks on the sidelines of a public lecture at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) on Monday, where she encouraged qualified returnees to consider opportunities within the civil service.
“There is a will to ensure that skilled Zimbabweans, especially those coming from South Africa where they fled anti-migrant violence, are incorporated into the economy because some of them have skills that the Government needs,” she said.
She added that the returnees could also contribute innovative ideas to support national development.
“Some of them can bring the innovations the country needs, and we are encouraging them to apply for jobs in the Public Service Commission,” Mugoko said.
Her remarks come as Zimbabwe steps up efforts to facilitate the reintegration of citizens returning from South Africa. The repatriation exercise has brought home thousands of people with diverse skills and professional backgrounds.
Mugoko also indicated that the Government was considering possible financial support for returnees who may wish to establish their own projects and businesses.
“I’m sure that the issue of funding to assist returnees in various projects they may wish to pursue is under consideration by the Government,” she said.
The reintegration of skilled returnees presents an opportunity for Zimbabwe to retain and utilise human capital, particularly as the country pursues economic transformation, industrialisation, and employment creation under its development programmes.
The Government has previously indicated that returnees are being profiled to determine their skills and to identify areas where they can be supported as they rebuild their livelihoods after returning home.
The initiative is expected to complement broader efforts to create opportunities for Zimbabweans while tapping into the skills and experience acquired in the diaspora.
