HARARE – More than 108,000 Zimbabweans have returned home from South Africa, with Government intensifying efforts to ensure their safe repatriation and long-term reintegration into communities across the country.

Speaking during the Twenty-Fourth Post-Cabinet Briefing on Tuesday, Cabinet said 33,855 returnees had been repatriated through Government-assisted arrangements as of 18 July 2026, while an estimated 74,511 had returned independently. A further 791 self-repatriations were recorded through Botswana entry points, bringing the total number of returnees to over 108,000.

Government has facilitated 416 bus trips from the Beitbridge Repatriation Centre to transport returnees to their destinations, while the clinic at the reception centre has provided healthcare services to 1,474 people.

Harare Metropolitan Province has received the highest number of returnees, followed by Manicaland, Midlands and Bulawayo provinces.

Cabinet said Government has adopted a three-pronged reintegration strategy focusing on social, economic and cultural integration to help returnees rebuild their lives.

As part of the initiative, authorities are registering the skills of returning citizens to facilitate employment and livelihood opportunities. To date, 15,065 returnees have been registered across 52 occupational categories, with domestic work, bricklaying and farming emerging as the most common skills.

Government also said security agencies continue to strengthen screening and surveillance measures at the country's entry points for both returnees and foreign nationals.