Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A JOINT Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Peace and Security, Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services arrived in Beitbridge on Monday for a verification exercise on the repatriation of Zimbabweans who returned from South Africa during recent anti-migrant protests.
The team, led by Committee Chairpersons Exvia Maonake and Irene Zindi, toured the Beitbridge Border Post to assess government reception, processing systems, and support structures for returnees.
The visit comes after weeks of heightened tensions in South Africa that triggered a mass movement of migrants. At the height of the anti-migrant protests, over 100 000 Zimbabweans returned home through the Beitbridge border by road.
The border also served as a transit point for Zambians and Malawians returning to their countries by road.
On arrival, the committee was welcomed by Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Albert Nguluvhe, together with senior government officials, security services, and border agencies.
Minister Nguluvhe briefed the committee on the inter-agency response activated at the border.
He said Government, working with humanitarian partners, set up reception centres to provide meals, water, medical screening, temporary shelter, and onward transport for returnees.
“We received our people under difficult circumstances, but as government we moved swiftly to ensure no one was stranded. The border teams worked day and night,” said Minister Nguluvhe.
He said local and national stakeholders were mobilised to support vulnerable families, women, and children among the returnees.
