‘Returnee children to get school support’

Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge Bureau

Government is working on a plan to place children of Zimbabweans who have voluntarily returned from South Africa into local schools, following violent anti-migrant protests in parts of that country that have forced many to come back home.

Between May 28 and June 21, a total of 761 children came back with their parents or guardians from Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

Seven other children arrived at Beitbridge Border Post without parents or guardians, and Government officials have since reunited them with their families in Zimbabwe.

Since the protests started, 1 755 people have been evacuated from South Africa by the Government.

In the same period, 24 211 people chose to return on their own under a process known as self-repatriation.

Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Albert Nguluvhe toured the Government Reception and Support Centre in Beitbridge yesterday and said he would engage the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education regarding the return of children.

“No child should lose a school year because of what is happening in South Africa,” he said.

“I will engage the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education so that we create space and support for these children in our schools.”

He added that information from some returning parents indicated that children of migrants were being bullied in South African schools.

Minister Nguluvhe said the situation was making parents decide to bring their children back home. Government, he said, wants to ensure the children settle quickly and continue learning.

“The Government will look at social safety nets for parents who have returned. Many parents lost jobs or businesses in South Africa,” said the Minister.

Social safety nets can include food aid, counselling and help to start small income projects.

Superintendent at the reception centre, Miss Nobuhle Ncube, said the number of buses arriving has increased significantly.

“At first, we were receiving one bus a day. Now we get up to four buses daily from different areas in South Africa,” she said.

Miss Ncube said most of the returnees are going to Harare, Masvingo and other Mashonaland provinces after resting at the centre. The centre provides them with food, medical checks and transport assistance before they continue their journey.

The mass returns follow a wave of violent anti-migrant protests that have swept through parts of South Africa. The demonstrations, reportedly linked to Operation Dudula, have seen foreigners targeted in some communities, with businesses looted and people attacked.

South Africa has long been a destination for Zimbabweans seeking economic opportunities, with an estimated one million Zimbabweans living in that country. The recent violence has triggered fears for safety, prompting many to return home.

Minister Nguluvhe commended the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other partners for helping the Government evacuate Zimbabweans from South Africa.

He called for better teamwork between the local Civil Protection Committee in Beitbridge and the Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa.

“Such a set-up will make the return process smooth and safe for everyone,” said Minister Nguluvhe.

He also noted that the kitchen and toilet facilities at the Government Reception and Support Centre in Beitbridge need more resources, as the centre is now receiving more people every day.

IOM Beitbridge head, Mr Nhamo Muleya, said the organisation is providing non-food item kits, transport and meals to returnees. The kits include blankets, soap, cooking utensils and sanitary wear.

The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society is helping returnees call their relatives. Many people arrive without airtime or charged phones and are provided with free phone calls so they can inform their families they are safe.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care runs a clinic at the centre with support from partners. Nurses and doctors check returnees for illness, give medicine and offer health advice.

Social workers are also at the centre to counsel people who have gone through stress or trauma. They also provide advice on social protection services.

The Civil Registry Department is stationed at the facility to attend to documentation issues, while the police have increased security at the border and the reception centre to ensure everyone’s safety.

Regional Immigration Officer in charge of the Southern Region, Mr Joshua Chibundu, said his team was ready for the extra workload.

“We are equal to the task. So far, we have assisted 24 211 Zimbabweans coming through the border post between May 28 and June 21 under the self-repatriation model,” he said.

“We will continue working with other agencies to make sure people are processed quickly and with dignity. We are profiling all those arriving undocumented to ensure they are all Zimbabwean nationals.”

Zimborders Consortium General Manager, Mr Nqobile Ncube, said his company is also ready to assist in ensuring the border processes are efficient.

The consortium upgraded the Beitbridge Border Post under a US$300 million public-private partnership with the Government and now runs the facility on behalf of the State.

“We have enough staff and systems to handle the increase in travellers. We will work with all agencies to keep things moving,” Mr Ncube said.