The government is preparing to welcome thousands of Zimbabweans living illegally in South Africa who are expected to be deported from the neighbouring country.
South Africa has intensified its deportation efforts, particularly targeting Zimbabweans, amid concerns from locals that foreigners are taking jobs and contributing to rising crime rates.
In response to written questions from legislators during a parliamentary session on Wednesday regarding the government’s plans to accommodate returning Zimbabweans, Public Service and Social Welfare Minister Maruva Mercy Dinha said:
<blockquote>
The government of Zimbabwe, working with the International Organisation for Migration, laid a foundation for the receipt of migrants in anticipation of the return of Zimbabwe Exemption Permit non-holders from South Africa.
In that regard, there are inter-ministerial committees in place that will be activated to attend to any anticipated return of citizens.
My ministry is finalising the renovations of the Beitbridge and Plumtree reception and support centres, respectively, where returnees will be admitted and then reintegrated into the communities where they came from.
Our capability to handle any number of our returning citizens cannot be doubted as evidenced by our acquittal during the COVID-19 pandemic, where hundreds of thousands of returning citizens were successfully received and reintegrated into the country.
</blockquote>
South Africa hosts millions of African migrants, with a significant number of them being undocumented Zimbabweans.
Approximately 178,000 Zimbabwean nationals currently reside in South Africa under the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), set to expire on November 29, 2025.
However, ZEP holders are ineligible for permanent residence, and the permits are non-renewable. As a result, there are concerns that many beneficiaries may face deportation when their ZEPs expire.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe is getting ready for many people from South Africa to come back. South Africa is sending back people from other countries who are living there without permission. The Zimbabwe government is preparing to welcome its citizens who will be deported from South Africa. They are getting ready to help them settle back into their communities. Many Zimbabweans live in South Africa with special permits, but these permits will expire soon, and they might have to go back to Zimbabwe. The government is making plans to help these people when they come back.

Zimbabwe Prepares For Migrant Influx From South Africa

The Government has paid over $19.2 billion to primary schools around the country to settle 2023 arrears of learners under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
This was said by Deputy Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare, Mercy Dinha while responding to concerns over delays in paying BEAM funds during question time in Parliament recently. She said, as quoted by<a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/govenment-pays-192bn-to-schools-for/"> Chronicle</a>:
<blockquote>
An amount totalling ZWL$19 233 085 029 has been paid to settle 2023 arrears for primary schools across the country. The total arrears for primary schools are ZW$425 215 440 000. For secondary schools, the total arrears are ZW$142 496 265 000 and the total is ZW$567 711 705 000.
</blockquote>
Dinha was responding to Emakhandeni Luveve MP, Discent Bajila (CCC) who had asked the Deputy Minister to give a breakdown of BEAM arrears owed to schools province by province and the plans that have been put in place to clear the arrears. She said:
<blockquote>
The actual release is ZW$30 billion, which is being processed. For Bulawayo, we have 49 schools and the amount per term is US$703 490 and the total for the three terms is US$2 110 470.
For Harare we have 58 schools that are under BEAM and the total, all in all for Harare for Primary schools is US$18 050 688.
</blockquote>
Dinha said Mashonaland Central has 314 schools under BEAM owed US$3 794 226 while Mashonaland East has 12 primary schools that are under BEAM and the total owed is US$158 955.
Mashonaland West has 107 schools under BEAM and the total amount in arrears is US$1 885 410.
She said Matabeleland North has 262 schools under BEAM owed about US$2 036 364, while Matabeleland South has 233 schools owed US$2 388 150 under BEAM.
Manicaland has 669 schools under BEAM and the total in arrears is US$7 350 897 while in Masvingo there are 606 schools under BEAM with arrears totalling US$6 628 986.
Bimha said of the ZWL$50 billion that her Ministry was promised by the Treasury, only ZW$30 billion was availed as cash.
BEAM was launched by the Government in 2001 to assist orphans and vulnerable children. Financing of the programme mainly comes from the Government and development partners.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Releases ZWL$19.2 Billion For BEAM - Deputy Minister

A government official has said the delivery of food aid to Zimbabweans has been delayed due to lack of funding.
Speaking during Parliament’s question and answer session, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputy minister Mercy Dinha said that the grain distribution programme should have started a long time ago but was delayed due to a lack of funding. She said, as quoted by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200024065/no-money-for-food-aid-distributiongovt">NewsDay</a>:
<blockquote>
This grain distribution programme should have started a long time ago, but we were waiting for funding from Treasury to transport the grain to silos that are closer to the people.
We have been allocated ZWL$3.7 billion to ensure that we cover registration as well as transporting the grain.
With regards to transportation, we have not received all the money, by the time we receive all the money, the process will proceed smoothly.
From the figure we were allocated, we received about ZWL$8 billion in February and yesterday we received ZWL$3,5 billion.
We have not received all the funds and that is the reason why we have those delays.
The grain is there, the only problem is transportation to take it to the nearest Grain Marketing Board depots so that people may receive grain closer to their doorsteps.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that 5.3 million Zimbabweans are facing insufficient food consumption due to the effects of the El Niño-induced drought.
In January, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a contribution of US$11.27 million to the WFP in Zimbabwe to provide food aid to 230 000 of the most vulnerable people in Mwenezi, Mangwe, Chivi, and Buhera districts during the January to March 2024 lean season.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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