Zimbabwe has repatriated nearly 100,000 of its citizens from South Africa since May amid heightened tensions over irregular immigration in the country.
More than 70% of the returnees are women and children, with the number of Zimbabwean nationals requiring repatriation continuing to rise, Information Minister Zhemu Soda told journalists on Tuesday.
“The nation is being informed that through collaborative efforts, the Inter-Ministerial Committee and development partners facilitated the return of 99,418 citizens between 28 May and 10 July, 2026,” he said.
“Measures have been put in place to meet the growing demand” the minister added.
The authorities have established reception centres at Beitbridge border crossing to provide temporary shelter, meals and medical assistance to the returnees.
Several African countries have provided planes and buses to bring their citizens home during a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa in recent months.
Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique have said some of their nationals were killed during the protests, although South African officials have rejected attempts to link the deaths to the anti-illegal immigrants protests.
