Yesha
Senior Member
- Jan 28, 2026
- 100
- 45
More than 115,000 Zimbabweans have returned home from South Africa as the government scales up its repatriation and reintegration programme, Cabinet has announced.
Speaking during Tuesday's post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Soda Zhemu said Cabinet had received an update from Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe on the ongoing exercise.
According to the Cabinet statement, "the repatriation and re-integration of Zimbabwean nationals from South Africa continues, with a total of 36,940 returnees having been repatriated through Government arrangements, while 79,730 have self-repatriated, bringing the total number of returnees to over 115,000."
The statement added that "a cumulative total of 870 self-repatriations was recorded through the Botswana entry points."
As part of efforts to help returnees rebuild their lives, "a total of 38,057 returnees have registered through the Skills Registration Process, with some local companies expressing interest in utilising the skills data for their employment needs."
Cabinet also expressed concern over the financial losses suffered by many returnees, noting that "the loss of employment benefits, pensions, and unpaid dues for the returnees... will be pursued through bilateral arrangements."
Healthcare services remain a key part of the response. The Beitbridge Reception Centre Clinic has treated 2,147 returnees, including 851 men, 1,296 women and 575 children under the age of 15. The most common conditions reported were upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeal diseases and headaches.
To support the movement of returnees, "512 bus trips have been undertaken from the Beitbridge Reception Centre to various destinations in the country. More trucks are being mobilised for the transportation of household goods and business equipment."
Cabinet also announced additional funding for the programme, saying, "Treasury has since released an additional US$2 million towards coordination of the repatriation exercise, bringing cumulative disbursements to US$3.4 million."
Speaking during Tuesday's post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Soda Zhemu said Cabinet had received an update from Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe on the ongoing exercise.
According to the Cabinet statement, "the repatriation and re-integration of Zimbabwean nationals from South Africa continues, with a total of 36,940 returnees having been repatriated through Government arrangements, while 79,730 have self-repatriated, bringing the total number of returnees to over 115,000."
The statement added that "a cumulative total of 870 self-repatriations was recorded through the Botswana entry points."
As part of efforts to help returnees rebuild their lives, "a total of 38,057 returnees have registered through the Skills Registration Process, with some local companies expressing interest in utilising the skills data for their employment needs."
Cabinet also expressed concern over the financial losses suffered by many returnees, noting that "the loss of employment benefits, pensions, and unpaid dues for the returnees... will be pursued through bilateral arrangements."
Healthcare services remain a key part of the response. The Beitbridge Reception Centre Clinic has treated 2,147 returnees, including 851 men, 1,296 women and 575 children under the age of 15. The most common conditions reported were upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeal diseases and headaches.
To support the movement of returnees, "512 bus trips have been undertaken from the Beitbridge Reception Centre to various destinations in the country. More trucks are being mobilised for the transportation of household goods and business equipment."
Cabinet also announced additional funding for the programme, saying, "Treasury has since released an additional US$2 million towards coordination of the repatriation exercise, bringing cumulative disbursements to US$3.4 million."
