Zimbabwean Returnees Face Economic Realities After Xenophobia-Driven Exodus from South Africa

Mutare, Zimbabwe – Samantha Chimbuya established a life in South Africa after departing Zimbabwe in 2019 seeking better prospects. She secured employment, ensured food stability, and believed her children enjoyed improved education. She also had access to healthcare. However, she no longer felt safe. As June 30 neared, a deadline imposed by anti-immigrant activists requiring undocumented migrants to depart South Africa, Chimbuya packed her belongings and returned to Zimbabwe. “It was no longer safe. They were raiding our homes, warning us to leave. It was frightening,” Chimbuya told Al Jazeera.

Anti-immigrant protests intensified in KwaZulu-Natal, where one of the groups behind the June 30 deadline accused undocumented migrants of taking jobs and pressuring public services. The South African government did not impose the June 30 deadline, designating it a normal day and warning against intimidation and violence. Nevertheless, thousands of migrants departed amid fears of unrest. Some governments arranged transport for citizens returning home. Chimbuya financed her own journey to Hurungwe in northern Zimbabwe.

By July 28, 116,670 Zimbabweans had returned from South Africa, according to Information Minister Zhemu Soda. Of that number, 36,940 were government-assisted, while 79,730 returned independently. Additionally, 38,057 had registered for employment, Soda reported.

Economic Challenges Greet Returnees in Zimbabwe

Returning home forced Chimbuya to confront the economic hardships that had originally driven her departure. She has struggled to secure employment and now depends on family and friends for support. Her husband remains in South Africa, where she says he is also facing difficulties. She had hoped to obtain a grant to launch a small business, but said she had not received one. Reverend Useni Sibanda, executive director of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, noted that many returnees had spent years abroad and were arriving home without jobs or adequate support. Some had not invested in homes or property during their time abroad, he said, leaving them with little to fall back on. “They are returning to a country with limited jobs where social support systems may prove insufficient,” Sibanda said.

The government asserts it is working to assist. Local government Minister Daniel Garwe stated authorities were screening and profiling returnees to identify their skills and needs. Reintegration centres were being established, while the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Schools considered recruiting qualified teachers among returnees. Garwe also noted that companies were being encouraged to employ skilled returnees, and that vocational training and business-startup support were under consideration. Nevertheless, for some, skills acquired in South Africa have provided a more immediate pathway to earning a living.

Rebuilding Lives from the Ground Up

Sidney Bunya, a resident of Zvimba northeast of Harare, departed Zimbabwe in March 2020 due to economic hardship. He first moved to Johannesburg, where he held various jobs, before settling in Port Elizabeth. There, a cousin introduced him to professional carpenters. Bunya honed his skills and eventually secured significant projects, specializing in roof trusses. However, in 2026, groups demanding permits began raiding his workplace. Bunya possessed only his passport, and employers grew reluctant to hire him due to the harassment. He purchased carpentry tools, shipped them to Zimbabwe, and departed South Africa before the June 30 deadline. Using his savings, he launched a home-based business that now supports his family and employs five people. “Establishing the business was difficult. But I am securing more jobs now,” Bunya said. Motsi noted that churches had also partnered with local businesses to provide training in welding, carpentry, and computer science.

Demands for Sustained Support

Churches have been assisting returnees with shelter, food, and transport, but Ray Motsi, president of the Theological College of Zimbabwe, stated the needs were overwhelming. He criticized the government for failing to do enough to support people returning after years abroad. “We need a deliberate reintegration program for these individuals,” Motsi argued, stating that returnees needed more than just transport home. Rashweat Mukundu, a human rights activist in Harare, urged the government to provide longer-term assistance, including small grants, agricultural inputs, and machinery, to help people establish livelihoods. He emphasized that the challenge extended beyond crossing the border to ensuring lasting economic security upon arrival. “I plan to open a grocery store, but funding remains a challenge,” he said.

Source link