MUTARE, Zimbabwe – For Samantha Chimbuya, returning to Zimbabwe meant trading one set of challenges for another. The 30-year-old had spent years building a life in South Africa after leaving her home country in 2019, securing employment, housing, and better educational prospects for her two children.
However, escalating anti-immigrant sentiment forced her hand. With June 30 approaching—a deadline set by activist groups demanding undocumented migrants leave—Chimbuya packed her belongings and traveled to Hurungwe in northern Zimbabwe. “It was not safe any more. They were raiding our homes, warning us to leave. It was scary,” she told Al Jazeera, recounting the intimidation she faced in KwaZulu-Natal.
Organizations such as March and March accused undocumented migrants of usurping jobs and straining public services. While the South African government clarified that June 30 was not an official eviction date and warned against violence, thousands chose to depart preemptively. Chimbuya financed her own trip back, joining a massive exodus.
According to Information Minister Zhemu Soda, 116,670 Zimbabweans had returned by July 28. Of this total, 36,940 were assisted by state transport arrangements, while 79,730 returned independently. Additionally, 38,057 returnees had registered for employment opportunities.
Upon arrival, Chimbuya encountered the same economic stagnation that originally prompted her emigration. She has been unable to find steady work and now relies on social networks for survival. Her husband remains in South Africa, where he too is facing difficulties, and Chimbuya has yet to receive the business grant she had hoped would help her start anew.
Reverend Useni Sibanda, executive director of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, noted that many returnees lack the financial cushions of homeownership or property investment, having spent their earnings abroad. “They are coming back to a country where there are no jobs and where the social support systems may not be enough to accommodate them,” Sibanda said.
The Zimbabwean government has stated it is implementing measures to assist returnees. Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe announced that authorities are profiling returnees to identify their skills and needs. Plans are underway to establish reintegration centers, recruit qualified teachers from among the returnees, and encourage private sector hiring of skilled individuals.
Despite these systemic efforts, some returnees have found success by leveraging vocational skills acquired overseas. Sidney Bunya, originally from Zvimba, left Zimbabwe in March 2020 due to economic hardship. After working various jobs in Johannesburg, he settled in Port Elizabeth, where he trained as a professional carpenter specializing in roof trusses.
Bunya’s livelihood was threatened in 2026 when permit-demanding groups began raiding his workplace. Harassment made employers reluctant to hire him, prompting him to ship his tools back to Zimbabwe and establish his own business using personal savings. He now employs five people and reports a growing client base.
Religious institutions have also stepped in. Motsi, representing the Theological College of Zimbabwe, highlighted partnerships between churches and local businesses to provide training in welding, carpentry, and computer science. However, he argued that current aid is insufficient. “We need a deliberate programme to reintegrate these people,” Motsi said, emphasizing that transport home is only the first step.
Human rights activist Rashweat Mukundu echoed the call for sustained support, urging the government to provide small grants, agricultural inputs, and machinery. “The challenge… was not simply getting Zimbabweans across the border but helping them remain economically secure once they arrived,” Mukundu said. “I plan to open a grocery store, but funding is a challenge.”
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