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Parliament has launched an assessment of Government’s response to the mass return of Zimbabweans from South Africa following recent anti‑migrant disturbances in the neighbouring country.


Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Chairperson Exevia Moses Maoneke on Monday led a joint parliamentary delegation to Beitbridge to evaluate reception systems and facilities set up to accommodate and process returning nationals.

The visit formed part of Parliament’s oversight and verification mandate, with legislators inspecting reception facilities and engaging Government officials and other stakeholders involved in the processing, welfare and onward transportation of returnees.

Maoneke said Parliament wanted to establish how effectively Government and its partners had responded to the sudden influx, particularly during the peak period when tens of thousands of Zimbabweans reportedly crossed into the country through Beitbridge. He said the assessment aimed to identify both successes and gaps that could undermine preparedness for similar emergencies in future.

“We are here to see the situation for ourselves, engage those who were involved and establish what lessons can be drawn from the experience,” Maoneke said.

The delegation assessed arrangements covering accommodation, food, water, healthcare, immigration processing, security and transportation, with particular attention paid to the needs of vulnerable returnees, including children, women and elderly people.

Maoneke commended Government agencies, humanitarian organisations and partners involved in the repatriation response, saying effective coordination was critical when dealing with large‑scale movements of people.

Receiving the delegation, Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe outlined the province’s response, saying Government departments worked collectively to ensure returning Zimbabweans were received safely and treated with dignity. He welcomed Parliament’s assessment, saying it would strengthen preparedness, coordination and response mechanisms at Beitbridge, one of Zimbabwe’s major entry points and a key regional gateway.

The delegation is expected to engage other stakeholders before compiling findings and recommendations for Parliament’s consideration — a process that feeds into broader national discussions around migration management and border preparedness.