Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
REPATRIATION and re-integration of 156 299 Zimbabweans returning home from South Africa is steadily progressing.
Delivering a report on the repatriations, Local Government and Public Works Minister Dr Daniel Garwe, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Environment, Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Prevention and Management, said as of last Sunday, a total of 42 339 Government-assisted repatriations had been recorded at Beitbridge Border Post.
In the same period, 112 863 self-repatriations were recorded, bringing the overall number of recorded repatriations from South Africa via Beitbridge to 155 264.
In addition, 1 035 self-repatriations were recorded through Botswana border entry points including Plumtree, Mphoengs, Maitengwe and Mlambapele, while 86 300 Malawian nationals have been assisted to repatriate to their country through Zimbabwe.
Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, provided a breakdown of returnees.
She said the repatriation programme has seen 10 437 men, 13 558 women, 8 937 boys and 9 399 girls coming back home, while 4 unaccompanied boys and 4 unaccompanied girls were also included in the categories.
“In addition, a total of 701 deportees were received at the Beitbridge Reception Centre from Lindela Prison in Gauteng Province in South Africa, while a total cumulative 622 bus trips ferrying returnees have been undertaken to date,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
On re-integration, she said efforts to enhance the process were continuing, with profiling and documentation of returnees’ skills and qualifications progressing well.
“A total of 60 737 returnees were recorded in the Skills Audit Database, including 15 percent domestic workers, 12 percent farm workers, 7 percent vendors, 6 percent fruit pickers, 6 percent bricklayers, 5 percent hairdressers and 4 percent caregivers, while 6 percent were recorded as unemployed and 1 percent as small business owners.
“Government continues to strengthen disease surveillance, and foster collaborative efforts with all supporting partners in order to ensure smooth repatriation and re-integration of all Zimbabwean nationals returning from the Republic of South Africa,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
