By Panashe Karidzagundi
GOVERNMENT and the United Nations have launched a Joint Resource Mobilisation Appeal to strengthen humanitarian assistance and long-term reintegration support for Zimbabwean nationals returning from South Africa, with the number of returnees now exceeding 100,000.
The appeal was launched on Thursday during a joint resource mobilisation meeting and tour of the Beitbridge Reception Centre led by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon. Daniel Garwe, and the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr Ramesh Rajasingham Kalapurakal.
Addressing Government officials, humanitarian organisations, development partners, the private sector and traditional leaders, Hon. Garwe said the continued return of Zimbabweans from South Africa required sustained support from both local and international partners.
He said President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa had directed Government to establish structures for the repatriation, reception and reintegration of returning citizens.
“Government and its partners have successfully repatriated more than 30,000 returnees, while over 70,000 Zimbabweans returned through self-repatriation, bringing the total number of returnees to more than 100,000,” said Hon. Garwe.
“The figures continue to rise and demonstrate the magnitude of the challenge before us. They also underscore the importance of sustained collaboration and resource mobilisation to support both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term reintegration requirements.”
He said Government and its partners had strengthened operations at the Beitbridge Reception Centre through improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, temporary shelter, food provision, border management systems and protection services for vulnerable groups.
Hon. Garwe said the reception centre’s 24-hour clinic had provided primary healthcare, medical screening and referrals to more than 1,200 returnees over the past two weeks.
He said Government had also adopted a comprehensive reintegration framework focusing on social, economic and cultural integration to ensure returnees successfully resettle within their communities.
The programme will facilitate access to education, healthcare, civil registration, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship support and livelihood programmes while recognising the skills and experience acquired by Zimbabweans during their stay abroad.
Hon. Garwe commended the United Nations and development partners for supporting Government through health services, protection programmes, logistics, water and sanitation interventions, information management and humanitarian assistance.
He, however, noted that increasing arrivals continued to place pressure on transport, shelter, food assistance, health services, sanitation facilities, protection mechanisms and reintegration programmes.
To address these challenges, Government and the United Nations signed a Joint Resource Mobilisation Appeal aimed at mobilising financial, technical and material support from development partners, humanitarian organisations, the private sector, faith-based organisations and other stakeholders.
Hon. Garwe said Zimbabwe would once again adopt the Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach that proved successful during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using the Shona proverb, “Nzou hairemerwi nenyanga dzayo,” the Minister called on Zimbabweans to embrace returning citizens with dignity and compassion.
“Let us welcome these people. They are our own,” he said.
The Beitbridge Reception Centre remains the country’s main reception facility for Zimbabweans returning from South Africa following recent anti-migrant tensions, providing temporary accommodation, food, healthcare, documentation and transport assistance before returnees proceed to their home districts.