Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu [email protected]
THE Civil Protection Department in Bulawayo has heightened preparedness measures following confirmation that 300 Zimbabwean nationals are expected to arrive in the country from South Africa amid growing anti-immigration sentiment and calls for the removal of undocumented foreign nationals in parts of the neighbouring country.
The latest arrivals are part of a broader repatriation exercise after more than 1 000 Zimbabweans registered with the Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa seeking assistance to return home.
Preparations by provincial and district Civil Protection structures began last week after the Department of Civil Protection alerted authorities countrywide to prepare for the possible influx of returnees.
The communication followed an emergency meeting convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on June 5 to discuss the situation of Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa.
Provincial and district authorities were directed to identify facilities that could provide overnight accommodation for returnees in transit to their final destinations across the country in the event that transport connections were not immediately available.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province’s director in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and Provincial Civil Protection Department chairperson, Mrs Tsvagai Fikile Marovatsanga, said the province activated preparedness measures following the directive from national authorities.
The Provincial Civil Protection Department subsequently met and identified possible facilities that could be used as temporary reception and command centres for returnees transiting through Bulawayo.
Among the facilities identified were eLangeni Training Institute and community halls, with eLangeni emerging as the preferred facility. A formal request for its use has since been submitted.
Mrs Marovatsanga said all stakeholders had been assigned specific responsibilities to ensure the province is ready should any returnees require temporary accommodation or assistance while travelling to their home areas.
According to the latest update, three buses carrying 226 Zimbabwean nationals departed Verulam in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday night and were expected to arrive at Beitbridge Border Post on Sunday. A fourth bus carrying 74 nationals departed Bredasdorp in Cape Town and is also expected to arrive at the border post on Sunday.
Of the 74 passengers from Cape Town, 29 are minors, while 22 are adult males and 23 are adult females.
All 300 returnees will be received at the Beitbridge Repatriation Centre where Government ministries, departments and agencies together with development partners will facilitate reception, processing and onward transportation.
Authorities said the returnees are destined for different parts of the country, necessitating coordination among provinces and districts to ensure smooth transit and temporary accommodation where necessary.
The Civil Protection Department has expressed concern that some repatriates had already begun arriving in the country, highlighting the need for urgent preparedness measures.
Government ministries, departments and agencies have been urged to provide prompt services to the returnees and avoid unnecessary delays, particularly for those who already have arrangements to proceed to their final destinations.
