By McGeorge Mbare
Zimbabwean returnees from South Africa have arrived in the border town of Beitbridge, with many citing several harrowing situations they went through.
The returnees were repatriated to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare reception centre in Beitbridge.
One male returnee said, “I chose to return to Zimbabwe because the situation is no longer safe at all in Durban, where I was based.”
He also said he left behind his property and a South African wife due to the tense situation and threats he received from local residents. He added that locals were constantly following him and claiming they wanted to take over the tuckshop and house he owned because its their land.
One female returnee, who asked not to be named, described her living conditions as unsafe and full of threats from locals who claimed that foreigners had taken their jobs.
The woman said, “I have worked as a domestic worker since 2010 and was able to raise funds to rent my own informal tuckshop in 2018. In May 2026, my landlord took my groceries and everything I was selling in the shop, claiming that I am an illegal immigrant and have no right to operate an informal business.”
The Zimbabwean government continues to repatriate its citizens from South Africa ahead of 30 June 2026, which has been marked as action day against all immigrants in South Africa.
Over the past few weeks, several buses have crossed the Beitbridge Border Post, carrying a number of Zimbabwean citizens returning to their country.