Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
The Ministry of Skills Audit and Development is carrying out an assessment and data registration of Zimbabweans returning from South Africa to guide policy formulation and integrate them into national economic development.
The exercise is being done at the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre, which is receiving returnees daily.
Permanent Secretary Ambassador Rudo Chitiga last week visited the centre to familiarise herself with operations.
The Deputy Director for Skills Gap, Ms Lesley Chakundura, said they had registered 15 000 skilled Zimbabweans who have returned home in recent weeks, mainly from South Africa, marking one of the most tangible milestones yet in the rollout of the Zimbabwe Global Skills Partnership Programme (ZGSPP).
She made the remarks during a tour of the facility by the Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, and a United Nations delegation led by UN Resident Coordinator, Dr Rosemary Kalapurakal.
Ms Chakundura told the delegation that the skills audit was aimed at identifying the talents returnees bring back home.
It is understood that the registration drive comes against the backdrop of the repatriation of over 100 000 Zimbabweans from South Africa, following recent unrest linked to xenophobic attacks.
“The idea is to capture their skills and use the data to guide policy formulation. We also want to integrate them into the national human capital and economic development mantra,” said Ms Chakundura.
She said the 15 000 people registered on the database include both self-repatriates and those brought home by the Government.
Ms Chakundura said the majority of those who have come through the centre, among over 30 000 returnees processed, are women. Most of them are accompanying spouses.
In terms of skills, she said men mainly registered under semi-skilled to skilled categories.
“These include bricklayers, farm workers, mechanics, welders and general hand workers. Women registered skills in domestic work, hairdressing, catering, vending, and cross-border trading,” said the official.
She said men formed 60,3 percent of those registered so far and that the registration exercise is ongoing at both the reception centre and the border.
Ms Chakundura said one of the key challenges identified is certification, considering that many returnees have special skills acquired in South Africa, but they are not certified because of their immigration status.
“There is a strong need for the Government to help these people fit into the economy. Government should look into the issue of certification and recognition of prior learning for returnees with special skills,” she said.
To address this, she added that the ministry has set up a help desk at the reception centre and at the border. The desk is capturing all skills from returnees and separating them according to needs.
The data will be used to link returnees to training, employment, and livelihood programmes in their home districts.
Ms Chakundura said the skills database will also help the Government and partners to plan better for reintegration, and it will show which districts have shortages in certain trades and where returnees can be absorbed.
Minister Garwe commended the ministry and all partners for the work being done on the ground.
“I have noted the progress here. This skills audit is very important. It will help us to know who is coming back and what they can contribute to the economy,” he said.
He said the Government is committed to ensuring that no returnee is left behind and that skills brought back from South Africa should be harnessed to support local industry, agriculture, and infrastructure development.
Dr Kalapurakal said the UN supports the skills registration initiative, noting that the data will help in targeting assistance and in linking returnees to economic opportunities.
