By July 28, 116,670 Zimbabweans returned home from South Africa following anti-immigrant intimidation and a June 30 departure deadline set by activists. Returnees face acute economic hardship, limited employment opportunities, and inadequate reintegration support as local authorities work to screen skills and establish assistance centers.
Samantha Chimbuya spent years building a stable life in South Africa after leaving Zimbabwe in search of better opportunities in 2019. She found steady work, could afford food, and believed her two children had access to better education and had access to healthcare. That stability dissolved as anti-immigrant protests escalated in KwaZulu-Natal. Groups such as March and March targeted undocumented migrants, accusing them of taking jobs and straining public services, and set an explicit June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave.
Although the South African government stated that the date carried no official mandate and warned against violence, the rising intimidation prompted mass departures. Chimbuya packed her belongings and paid for her own journey back to Hurungwe in northern Zimbabwe. Her husband remains in South Africa, where she says he continues to struggle.
Return Figures and Official Response in Harare
By July 28, national records showed that 116,670 Zimbabweans had crossed back across the border from South Africa. According to Information Minister Zhemu Soda, the state assisted 36,940 of those returnees with transportation, while 79,730 made the journey independently. Soda also reported that 38,057 individuals registered for employment upon arrival.
Local government Minister Daniel Garwe outlined administrative steps to manage the influx. Authorities began screening and profiling returnees to catalog their skills, while officials considered recruiting qualified teachers from the returning population into the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Schools. The government also encouraged private companies to hire skilled returnees, exploring vocational training programs and business startup support.
Reverend Useni Sibanda, executive director of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, noted that many returnees spent years abroad without investing in local property, leaving them without homes or savings to absorb the shock.
Individual Rebuilding Efforts
While many returnees rely entirely on relatives, some used skills acquired abroad to establish independent livelihoods. Sidney Bunya left Zvimba in March 2020 amid economic distress, eventually settling in Port Elizabeth where a cousin introduced him to professional carpentry. He specialized in roof trusses and secured large projects.
When groups demanding permits began raiding workplaces in 2026, employers became hesitant to hire workers carrying only passports. Bunya shipped his carpentry tools home ahead of the June 30 deadline and used his savings to start a local enterprise.
It was difficult to set up the business.
Sidney Bunya
Bunya’s business now supports his immediate family and employs five workers. Other returnees face steeper hurdles. Chimbuya hoped to secure a small business grant but received no financial assistance, leaving her dependent on family and friends while she considers her options.
Civil Society Demands for Long-Term Reintegration
Churches and community organizations stepped in to provide initial shelter, food, and transport, alongside vocational training partnerships covering welding, carpentry, and computer science. Ray Motsi, president of the Theological College of Zimbabwe, argued that current government interventions remain insufficient for citizens returning after years away.
Human rights activist Rashweat Mukundu in Harare emphasized that the central obstacle extends beyond logistics at the border. Securing long-term stability requires targeted state assistance, including small business grants, agricultural inputs, and machinery, to ensure returnees remain economically secure over time.