Govt rolls out return plan for willing citizens

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has directed the Government to facilitate the safe return of every Zimbabwean wishing to come home from South Africa.

He has also assured the returnees that they will receive the necessary support to rebuild their lives upon arrival.

The directive comes as the Government intensifies efforts to repatriate citizens affected by a wave of xenophobic incidents and related disturbances in several South African provinces.

As of June 26, at least 3 624 nationals had been repatriated, with comprehensive reintegration support measures being rolled out to help them.

Addressing the media at a press briefing in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said Government had deployed an inter-ministerial team to Beitbridge Border Post to ensure the seamless reception of returnees and coordinate their immediate welfare upon arrival.

“His Excellency, the President ED Mnangagwa, has directed resources towards ensuring the safe and dignified return of every Zimbabwean who wishes to come back home,” he said.

“In compliance with this directive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has ensured mobilisation of logistics around the repatriation of our affected nationals.

“Government is also deploying additional manpower to assist with the administration of the repatriation processes, ensuring that our consular services are adequately equipped to handle the scale of this operation.”

Minister Soda added that while more than 3 600 people had been officially brought home, many other Zimbabweans had been returning on their own.

“Our numbers are not limited to those who have registered with Government. Many Zimbabweans are returning through private arrangements, and we remain ready to support those who require assistance,” he said.

Reports indicate that 35 403 citizens have come back home independently through the Beitbridge Border Post between May 28 and June 27 this year.

According to the latest Civil Protection Unit report, the surge in numbers of returnees is linked to growing fear among Zimbabweans living and working in South African townships, where community groups have been pushing for undocumented migrants to leave by end of day today.

Minister Soda explained that the Government is working closely with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, as well as development partners, including UNICEF and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), to strengthen reception and reintegration systems for returnees.

He added that delays experienced during the homecoming process were largely due to requisite evaluations being undertaken by South African authorities.

“The current delays in processing are a result of profiling requirements by the South African authorities. This is a mandatory security procedure undertaken by the host country to verify personal information and establish whether returnees have any criminal matters pending.

“We understand the frustration and anxiety this causes, but the Government is doing everything within its power to expedite the process and bring our people home as quickly as possible,” Minister Soda said.

He said the Government continued to engage South African authorities to ensure smoother processing, including efforts to decentralise profiling to Beitbridge Border Post to speed up the exercise.

Minister Soda added that returnees would also benefit from customs concessions to ease reintegration.

“We are also pleased to advise that a special dispensation has been granted to our returnees. Treasury has extended the concessions previously granted to Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders to the returnees under the immigrants’ rebate of duty on the same terms and conditions. This is subject to appropriate evaluation to limit potential abuse by non-qualified individuals,” he said.

The returnees will be allowed to import one motor vehicle under suspension of duty, with flexible VAT terms and exemptions for older vehicles bought before December 31, 2022.

For personal property and equipment of a commercial nature, a rebate of duty will also apply to property bought before December 31, 2022.

Speaking at the same occasion, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said the Government had also put in place social protection measures to support vulnerable returnees.

He said social development officers would assess families requiring assistance, while those qualifying for Government social protection programmes would receive support.

“Some returnees have acquired valuable skills while in South Africa and we believe these will contribute positively to Zimbabwe’s economy.

“Others who require assistance will receive support through our existing social protection programmes,” Minister Moyo said.

He said the Government would also facilitate the replacement of lost civil documents and provide psychosocial support, particularly for children who may struggle to adjust after their return.

“We are also looking at family reunification services because some people have been away for many years and may no longer have immediate relatives or homes to return to.

“Where necessary, we will assist them to reconnect with relatives or provide temporary accommodation through available care centres,” Minister Moyo said.

Government has also prioritised access to education for children returning from South Africa, with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, saying schools across the country are prepared to absorb all returning learners aged between four and 18 years.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is more than ready to reintegrate all pupils returning to Zimbabwe.

“Our schools are open for them and we are able to accommodate all learners,” he said.

Mr Ndoro said learners would undergo assessments to determine the appropriate grade placement under Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum.

“If a learner was in Grade 3 in South Africa, assessments may determine that the equivalent level here is Grade 2.

“We will place learners where they are best positioned to benefit fully from our curriculum,” he said.

In an interview earlier yesterday, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Permanent Secretary Ambassador Albert Chimbindi said the Government had deployed 48 buses to transport returnees.

He added that Zimbabwe’s embassies and consulates in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town were actively assisting citizens requiring support.

“Through its consulates, the Government is making arrangements to assist Zimbabweans who have made distress calls from various provinces across South Africa,” he said.

Ambassador Chimbindi said Zimbabwe and South Africa were working to streamline and decentralise profiling procedures to ensure a more efficient and humane return process.

“Comprehensive measures are being undertaken to ensure that all citizens wishing to return home receive the necessary support,” he said.

Government has reiterated that Zimbabwe remains ready to welcome all its citizens returning from South Africa and has assured them of continued support as they rebuild their lives back home.

Zimbabwe is among several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique and Nigeria, that have initiated emergency voluntary repatriation programmes in response to unrest affecting foreign nationals in South Africa.