Chief Masendu of Matabeleland South has advised citizens returning from South Africa to register their presence so that their challenges can be addressed at the community level in his area.
Thousands of Zimbabwean and other migrant nationals fled South Africa or sought voluntary repatriation following violent anti-immigrant protests, localised attacks, and threats of forced removals tied to vigilante ultimatums.
Government reports indicate that over 108 000 arrivals from South Africa and Botswana have been recorded, with 15 000 skilled returnees registered to create a national databank aimed at placing workers.
Chief Masendu told Southern Eye that he had heard about the arrival of returnees in the province but indicated that none had yet reported to his office.
“I believe most of them have homes, but they should not hide so that we carry their burden together,” he said.
“If ever they have challenges, let them be open. The people who went to stay in South Africa from this jurisdiction are more than those remaining here.”
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He noted that in the past, men used to go to work in South Africa leaving their families behind, but nowadays they travel together with their families.
“This created distant marriages resulting in a high rate of disease infections, so people have decided to leave together with their families,” Masendu said.
Mbongeni Ndlovu, a returnee, said they left their belongings behind following the violent attacks and has lost hope of ever recovering them.
“We were forced to move out and were never given any chance of collecting our belongings,” he said.
“Chances of us returning to South Africa are very slim. We do not have money to get the right documents. We need to be assisted and start a new life altogether.”
Meanwhile, churches in Bulawayo have united under the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches to establish an emergency reception and transit centre at the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa in Njube.
The initiative provides food, blankets, pastoral counselling, and vital reintegration support for citizens returning from South Africa.