Over 78,000 Zimbabweans Return From South Africa Since May, Most Paying Their Own Way

Zimbabwe's government reported that 78,112 of its nationals have returned from South Africa since May 28, 2026. Of that total, 21,291 people were repatriated through government-assisted arrangements, while 56,832 funded their own journeys home, Information Minister Zhemu Soda said Tuesday.

The repatriation exercise began after anti-immigrant groups in South Africa issued an unofficial June 30 ultimatum demanding that foreign nationals leave or face nationwide protests.

Several other African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have also started repatriating their citizens. Zimbabwe's consular offices in South Africa have received large numbers of requests for transport assistance.

Social media images have shown Zimbabweans sleeping outdoors in winter conditions while waiting for transport, though the government maintains the situation is under control.

Soda said the government established an Inter-Ministerial Committee at the Beitbridge Reception Centre to manage receiving, registration, and transportation of returnees. A 24-hour inter-ministerial command centre was also set up at Beitbridge Border Post to coordinate operations. The government deployed 50 ZUPCO buses to move returnees from the Beitbridge centre to their home provinces.

Reception, registration, profiling, health screening, psychosocial support, social protection, and reintegration services are being provided at both border and district centres. The private sector, United Nations agencies, development partners, and other groups are assisting government efforts, Soda said.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, about one million Zimbabweans live in South Africa.