By McGeorge Mbare
THE Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Honourable Monica Mutsvangwa, has urged citizens to continue supporting Zimbabwean returnees and to prioritise sensitisation and assistance in any way possible.
Minister Mutsvangwa said this on Monday, July 20, 2026, during her visit to the Beitbridge Reception Centre.
She encouraged fellow Zimbabweans to prioritise sensitising returnees and supporting them. She emphasised that no one should feel less than the other because every Zimbabwean is equal.
“We need to listen to the returnees’ needs and wants and help them in any way possible. There is no one who is more special than the other. That is why we need to help each other and integrate with one another as brothers and sisters,” Mutsvangwa said.
Mutsvangwa said the need to restore hope for women after hearing sad reports from the Ministry of Health and Child Care about two women who were allegedly victims of rape. One case was reported in Beitbridge and the other in Polokwane during repatriation transit.
“I felt sad after hearing reports of women facing these horrible circumstances, especially those who were raped. We know that women and girls are affected in different ways. Women and girls face a high risk of Gender Based Violence and stressful situations. However, we work together to minimise these problems,” she said.
UNFPA Representative Miranda Tabifor said “We are donating 1,000 Dignity Kits. This is under the leadership of the entire United Nations family in Zimbabwe. Last Thursday, our Resident Coordinator was here and as part of that landmark visit, we are undertaking this high level mission led by the Minister of Women Affairs Mutsvangwa as the United Nations family, focusing on strengthening the gender responsive approach to these returnees.”
Tabifor also said the donations are just a token and symbolic gesture by United Nations through the Joint UN Sectoral Response Mission aimed to help the Zimbabwean repatriates.
The donation comes a few days after the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, signed a Joint Resource Mobilisation Appeal with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Rosemary Kalapurakal, on Thursday, 16 July 2026 at the Beitbridge Reception Centre.
In an interview with Ziyah News Network, Florence Gambe, one of the returnees who received a kit at the event, expressed gratitude.
“I have been given sanitary wear, shoes, bathing soap, and wipes. I am very grateful because I didn’t have anything. We came out running, unprepared without anything ,” Gambe said.
The Government and several stakeholders continue to offer help Zimbabwean repatriates affected in South Africa by the March and March movement.