The Zimbabwean government has reported that thousands of its citizens have returned from South Africa since the launch of a state-run repatriation and reintegration program on May 28. According to a briefing presented to the Cabinet, the number of people returning is increasing amid tensions affecting immigrant communities in South Africa.
The update on the program was delivered to Cabinet officials by the Ministry of Local Government. The initiative was established to manage the process for Zimbabwean nationals choosing to return from the neighboring country. The program is designed to facilitate both the physical return of citizens and their subsequent reintegration into Zimbabwean society.
While the government confirmed that the number of returnees is in the “thousands,” a precise figure from the Cabinet briefing was not made public. Officials noted a continuous rise in the number of citizens leaving South Africa for Zimbabwe.
The increase in returns coincides with reports of anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa. The government’s repatriation program is functioning as a formal channel for those seeking to leave. The information regarding the number of returnees and the context of their departure originates from the official government briefing.
