Zimbabwe Processes 140,000 Fleeing South Africa Xenophobia

More than 140,000 nationals from Zimbabwe and Malawi have been repatriated from South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post since early July, a senior official said on Monday.

Chief Director in the Department of Immigration, Respect Gono, told the state-run media that an inter-ministerial committee is on the ground to support a safe and orderly process for people returning home.

“I can safely inform you that currently we’ve repatriated 72,658 Zimbabweans. They’ve been assisted to come back home,” Gono said.

She said 72,272 Malawian nationals travelling from South Africa have also been processed through Zimbabwe.

She said immigration officials, police and representatives from Malawian embassies escort buses carrying Malawians from Beitbridge to Nyamapanda Border Post.

The repatriations come against a backdrop of heightened anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa where growing public anger over unemployment, service strain and crime has increasingly translated into restrictions and pressure on foreign nationals.

In recent weeks, South African authorities and local communities have intensified measures aimed at limiting the movement of undocumented migrants and discouraging informal settlement. *APA*