Online Reporter
Stephen Mpofu [email protected]
OUR Government has assured Zimbabweans being forced to leave South Africa — including some whose roots and family histories stretch deep into that country — that opportunities await them back home, with plans being put in place to support their resettlement and reintegration into society.
The Government has also indicated that programmes aimed at equipping young people, students and persons with disabilities with practical skills will be strengthened as part of broader efforts to drive national development and build a more prosperous Zimbabwe.
Zimpapers reported this week that Government support for returning Zimbabweans will not end at the point of arrival. Instead, authorities intend to roll out empowerment initiatives designed to help returnees rebuild their lives and establish sustainable livelihoods.
According to reports, some of those returning are arriving home with very few belongings, having been forced to leave behind property and possessions accumulated over many years in South Africa. This is despite the significant contribution Zimbabwean migrants have made to that country’s economy through their labour and skills.
What remains unclear at this stage is whether measures will be introduced to assist returnees in recovering or securing compensation for property left behind.
Many Zimbabweans have spent decades in South Africa, while others trace their presence there to the labour migration programmes of the past, when workers were recruited through organisations such as Wenela to help drive key sectors of the South African economy.
Questions also remain regarding the practical aspects of resettlement. It is not yet clear whether employment opportunities will be created in urban centres for returnees with professional skills and experience, or what specific arrangements will be made for those who choose to settle in rural communities.
Access to agricultural land, which would enable families to sustain themselves through farming, is likely to be a key consideration. Equally important will be the availability of schools, teachers and other essential social services to cater for the children of returning families as Government seeks to fulfil its commitment to their successful reintegration.
Beyond the immediate challenges of resettlement, the developments also raise broader questions about regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).
For years, Sadc has promoted regional cooperation, economic integration and the free movement of people and skills among member states.
The current wave of expulsions and the difficulties facing migrants from neighbouring countries may prompt reflection on how regional partnerships can be strengthened to better protect citizens who have contributed to the development of countries beyond their borders.
Back home, Government’s emphasis on equipping learners with practical and developmental skills is a welcome step.
If effectively implemented, such initiatives have the potential to empower young Zimbabweans, promote self-reliance and contribute to national growth.
As the country prepares to receive and support returning citizens, the challenge will be to transform a difficult situation into an opportunity — not only for the returnees themselves, but for Zimbabwe as a whole.
Hooray, hooray, hooray!
