Between May 28 and July 5, more than 73,000 Zimbabweans returned from South Africa following a wave of protests and deadly violence against undocumented migrants, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Zimbabwe, which cited government figures. The unrest, fueled by fringe groups blaming foreigners for crime and job shortages, has driven one of the largest exits from the continent’s wealthiest nation.
Violence and Border Crossings Impact Tens of Thousands
South Africa has long served as a magnet for migrants seeking work. However, weeks of anti-migrant protests and violence have targeted foreign nationals. South African police stated that at least four foreign nationals have been killed in attacks linked to the protests, though some African governments repatriating citizens reported a higher toll.
Among those injured is Shingirai Kurebwaseka, a 35-year-old Zimbabwean. “They beat me all over, smashed my foot with a hammer, burned me with some plastic papers which they had lit and were going to put a tyre around me but I somehow still managed to escape,” he told AFP. Kurebwaseka sustained severe injuries, including a head with zigzag stitches, an arm encased in plaster, and a foot supported by a splint wrapped in a plastic bag. After spending seven days hospitalized, he boarded a bus organized by South African authorities for foreign nationals.
Many returnees arrived at a crowded government-run shelter in Beitbridge supported by humanitarian agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. “I am in pain and just want to be treated and go home,” Kurebwaseka told AFP outside the shelter’s clinic.
Did You Know? Rapid assessments conducted at the border found that 69 percent of surveyed returnees described their journeys as “sudden or forced,” according to IOM’s Fadzai Nyamande-Pangeti.
Forced Returns and Highway Stranding
Of the more than 73,000 Zimbabweans who returned between May 28 and July 5, data from IOM Zimbabwe shows that 54,630 repatriated themselves while 19,048 received assistance through government programs. Many individuals fled abruptly, leaving behind their livelihoods as vigilantes conducted house-to-house searches for foreigners.
Amos Ferenando, a 41-year-old construction worker who spent seven years in South Africa, described a hasty departure. “I had to leave hurriedly from where I was staying because the vigilantes were doing house-to-house searches for foreigners,” Ferenando said. He became stranded at a highway kiosk, reaching out to relatives for help to travel 330 kilometres north to his rural home in Zvishavane. “My money ran out because I had to pay fines at the border,” he noted.
Tichaona Magomazi, another 35-year-old Zimbabwean, carried everything he salvaged after 11 years in Johannesburg in a single suitcase. Standing beside a highway outside Beitbridge, he scanned passing vehicles for a ride to the capital, Harare, without being able to afford the fare. “I left at the earliest opportunity,” Magomazi told AFP. “I have no words for this situation that we are finding ourselves in.”
As analysts point out, blaming undocumented migrants for broader economic challenges serves as scapegoating, yet the immediate operational reality requires urgent intervention. Humanitarian agencies face mounting pressure to provide food, transport, and psychosocial support as vulnerable populations continue to arrive with few personal belongings.
Humanitarian Needs and Future Outlook
As thousands of citizens continue to cross the border, humanitarian organizations emphasize that vulnerabilities increase as movements escalate. Agencies like the IOM highlight the critical need for food, transport, and psychosocial support for returning populations who often arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs.
For individuals stranded at transit points, the immediate focus remains on securing safe passage to their home towns and villages. Magomazi captured the sentiment of many returnees waiting along transit routes. “All I am praying for right now is that I get transport to get me home,” he said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the wave of returns to Zimbabwe?
A wave of protests and deadly violence against undocumented migrants swept South Africa after fringe groups set an unofficial deadline for foreigners to leave. These groups blamed undocumented migrants for crime and job shortages.
How many Zimbabweans have returned from South Africa?
According to IOM Zimbabwe citing government figures, more than 73,000 Zimbabweans returned from South Africa between May 28 and July 5. Of that total, 54,630 repatriated themselves and 19,048 received assistance through government programs.
What assistance are returnees receiving at the border?
Returnees arriving at locations like the crowded government-run shelter in Beitbridge are supported by humanitarian agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, while the IOM emphasizes the ongoing need for food, transport, and psychosocial support.
What challenges do you think local authorities and humanitarian agencies will face next as thousands of citizens continue arriving at border shelters?
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