Thousands of Zimbabwean nationals residing in South Africa whose special permits expire at the end of this year can now bring back all their belongings duty-free, including one vehicle, a Cabinet minister has said.

Addressing journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said there are no limits to personal property that one can bring back home. She said:

The Zimbabwean Government has issued guidelines and regulations for returning residents which include one duty-free vehicle and no limits to personal property.

Government has also engaged the South African government, emphasising that Zimbabwe is ready to receive its returning nationals, who should comply with the relevant South African laws.

Zimbabwe expects tens of thousands of its nationals to be deported from South Africa following the expiry of Zimbabwe Exemptions Permits (ZEP) which South Africa had granted them.

Zimbabwean ZEP holders in South Africa were given up to 31 December 2022 to regularise their stay or face deportation. SA later extended the permit’s validity to June 30 of next year.

Mutsvangwa added that Cabinet had agreed to establish an inter-ministerial committee that would be supported by sub-committees that would look at the provision of transport and logistics, security, documentation, re-integration support, resource mobilisation, information and publicity as well as health and education.

About 189 000 Zimbabweans held the ZEPs and the bulk of them face deportation after failing to get fresh permits under other schemes.