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July last year, Labour and Social Service Minister Paurina Mpariwa has said.
Speaking during the official opening of the Nyamapanda Temporary Refugee Reception Centre on Friday last week, Minister Mpariwa said Zimbabwe continues to be a safe destination for refugees seeking asylum.
“Over the past year to date, 7 820 third country nationals have been received and assisted at this centre.
“Among the arrivals 25 and above is the predominant age group constituting 50 percent and less than 2 percent are under 5 years.
“The majority of the refugees assisted at this centre are Ethiopians who constitute 77, 58 percent, Democratic Republic of Congo being 16,53 percent and Somalis constitute 6 percent,” she said.
Minister Mpariwa said refugees needed protection.
She hailed the International Organisation for Migration, the major donors of the centre, for setting up the centre.
She also paid tribute to local villagers for receiving the refugees.
IOM programme director Ms Natalia Perez Anderson commended Zimbabwe for receiving and caring for the migrants.
“Zimbabwe has increasingly become a transit and recipient country of mixed migratory movements over the past years.
“The majority of these migrants originate from the east and horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.”
She said the IOM looked forward to partnering Government in formulating national and regional initiatives and strategies to deal with the issue of mixed migration flows.
Two Ethiopian refugees expressed joy and hope for a better life in Zimbabwe.
They however, gave chilling testimonies full of pain on how they travelled for close to a year on foot to reach Zimbabwe.
Mr Aleka Alemyhu said it took him six months to reach Zimbabwe and said many of his colleagues died of diseases, starvation, malnutrition and dehydration.
He said he left his country seeking employment.
Mudzi West Member of Parliament Cde Aqualinah Katsande (Zanu-PF) and members of the diplomatic community attended the ceremony.
Online Reporter