Government rules out special fund, tells SA returnees to pursue rural projects

HARARE — The government says it will not establish a special fund for Zimbabweans returning from South Africa, arguing that returnees should access the same empowerment and development programmes available to other citizens.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told the National Assembly on Wednesday that returning citizens could benefit from existing programmes, including Empower Bank, vocational training initiatives and agricultural schemes.

He was responding to questions from lawmakers who asked what support was available for returnees who had arrived without jobs, accommodation, identification documents or startup capital.

“We are not creating funds for those who are coming, but we are encouraging them to go to the rural areas if they have projects that they want to do when they are in their rural areas,” Ziyambi said.

“Our Government sectors are helping those staying in the country and those who have come back from South Africa, to have equal opportunities and resources. We are not selecting these people. No one is more important than the other.”

Ziyambi said returnees with skills could seek assistance through existing programmes and use their expertise to establish businesses or contribute to the economy.

“They are not being assisted because they have come back from South Africa, but because they have the expertise to do their job,” he said.

The minister also said the government was assisting returnees with identity documents and birth certificates for children born in South Africa.

“If you have children whom you bore while you were in South Africa without a birth certificate, we are also issuing birth certificates to them,” Ziyambi said.

Earlier, he said the government was facilitating transport for returning citizens to their home areas and connecting them with health, vocational training and agricultural support programmes.

“The Empower Bank and various vocational training programmes are in place to promote the welfare of Zimbabwean nationals,” he said.

“We are committed to repatriating our fellow citizens and assessing their needs to help them reintegrate successfully.”

Several lawmakers argued that some returnees had come back in desperate circumstances and needed dedicated startup capital rather than being directed to conventional banks or general government programmes.

Ziyambi maintained that returnees would receive support on the same basis as other Zimbabweans.