Zimbabwe Deports 29 Mozambicans in Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
By Desire Tshuma
HARARE — Zimbabwean authorities have intensified efforts to curb undocumented migration after 29 Mozambican nationals were deported following immigration enforcement operations conducted in several parts of the country.
The deportees were intercepted in Chipinge, Mutare and Harare. Authorities revealed that the group included 28 boys aged between 14 and 18 years and a visually impaired adult man.
Officials said some of the teenagers had been surviving through informal street vending, while one was allegedly helping the visually impaired man with begging activities.
The deported group reportedly came from several districts in neighbouring Mozambique, including Chimoio, Manica, Dombe, Muxúngue and Chibabava.
The latest repatriation highlights the growing movement of undocumented Mozambican nationals into Zimbabwe, particularly among young people seeking opportunities in the informal economy.
It is the second deportation involving Mozambican nationals this year, following the repatriation of another 39 citizens who were also found without the required documentation.
The operations come amid renewed attention on undocumented migration, with authorities warning foreign nationals living and working in Zimbabwe to comply with immigration requirements.
The presence of minors among those deported also raises questions about the vulnerability of children crossing borders without proper documentation and becoming involved in informal economic activities.
Authorities are expected to continue with targeted operations as they seek to enforce immigration laws while addressing the challenges associated with irregular migration along Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique.
