Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
MORE than 140 000 Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals fleeing anti-migrant violence in South Africa have been repatriated through the Beitbridge Border Post, as Government intensifies efforts to receive, process and reintegrate returnees under a coordinated humanitarian response.
In an interview yesterday, chief director of Immigration Ms Respect Gono said the Department of Immigration had processed 72 658 Zimbabweans returning home, while 72 272 Malawian nationals had transited through Zimbabwe en route to their country.
“I can safely inform you that we have repatriated 72 658 Zimbabweans. They have been assisted to come back home. The returnees are all welcome back home and they can come in any time and we are there to accommodate them and ensure that they are safe,” she said.
Ms Gono said immigration officials continue to facilitate the safe passage of Malawian nationals travelling from South Africa.
“So far we have cleared 72 272 Malawians. I want to advise the public that we accompany all the buses that are carrying Malawian nationals. We come from Beitbridge and leave them at Nyamapanda Border Post,” she said.
Ms Gono said the coordinated operation involves the Department of Immigration, police, embassy officials and other Government agencies to ensure the safe movement of returnees across the country.
Government has also relaxed documentation requirements to speed up the reintegration of returning Zimbabweans.
The Civil Registry Department has deployed officers to Beitbridge to process birth certificates and national identity documents, prioritising returnees who lost documents or fled South Africa without them.
Registrar General Mr Henry Machiri said the Civil Registry was part of the inter-ministerial committee established by President Mnangagwa to coordinate the repatriation, reception and reintegration programme.
“The President established an inter-ministerial committee, which is based at Beitbridge, to assist the returning residents from South Africa. We, as the Civil Registry in the Ministry of Home Affairs, are part of this inter-ministerial committee. We are there on the ground to assist them,” said Mr Machiri.
He said many returnees, particularly children born in South Africa, were arriving without birth certificates or supporting documents.
“Some of those people are coming back with children who do not have birth certificates, and they do not have even the supporting documents because either they were burnt or they left in a hurry,” he said.
“It is necessary that we give them the documents. Some of the children have never been to Zimbabwe. We need to assist in the integration of these people because they are our citizens.”
Mr Machiri said while some returnees are receiving birth certificates and national identity documents at the border post, others are being referred to registry offices in their home districts because of the large numbers being processed.
The repatriation programme is part of the Government’s humanitarian response following anti-migrant violence that erupted in parts of South Africa, forcing thousands of foreign nationals to return to their countries of origin.
President Mnangagwa directed the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee and a national command centre to coordinate the reception, transportation and reintegration of returning Zimbabweans. The Government has deployed Zupco buses to ferry returnees from Beitbridge to their home provinces, while the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre provides temporary shelter, meals, healthcare and psychosocial support.
