The Zimbabwean Government says it will engage South African authorities through bilateral arrangements to recover unpaid salaries, pensions and empl...
HARARE – The Zimbabwean Government says it will engage South African authorities through bilateral arrangements to recover unpaid salaries, pensions and employment benefits owed to thousands of Zimbabweans who have returned home under the ongoing repatriation programme.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said Cabinet had noted concerns over employment-related losses suffered by many returnees and would pursue the matter through diplomatic channels.
“Cabinet noted with concern the loss of employment benefits, pensions and unpaid dues for the returnees, which matter will be pursued through bilateral arrangements,” Dr Soda said.
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Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the Government would work with South African authorities to ensure eligible returnees receive the salaries, pensions and other benefits owed to them. He noted that many Zimbabweans had been legally employed in South Africa before returning home.
“This is a bilateral arrangement between Zimbabwe and South Africa. Not every returnee was staying in South Africa illegally. They have told us that when they left, they were not yet paid their salaries and there is also the issue of benefits and pensions which we will pursue,” Garwe said.
The Government said the repatriation exercise continues to expand, with 36,940 Zimbabweans having returned through the Government-assisted programme, while 79,730 returned independently. An additional 870 people entered the country through Botswana, bringing the total number of returnees to more than 115,000.
To support the reintegration of returnees, Government has registered 38,057 people under its Skills Registration Programme. According to Dr Soda, several local companies have already expressed interest in recruiting workers from the database as part of efforts to help returnees secure employment.
Health services are also being provided at the Beitbridge Reception Centre, where medical personnel have treated 2,147 returnees, including 851 men, 1,296 women and 575 children under the age of 15. The most commonly reported illnesses include upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeal diseases and headaches.
The Government has organised 512 bus trips from the Beitbridge Reception Centre to transport returnees to destinations across the country. Authorities are also mobilising additional trucks to move household goods and business equipment belonging to returning citizens.
Dr Soda said Treasury had released an additional US$2 million to support the repatriation programme, bringing total Government funding to US$3.4 million. The United Nations has contributed about US$564,000, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has provided US$264,000 to support hygiene promotion and transport assistance. Government is also establishing a new reception centre in Harare, working with the Harare Metropolitan Province and other stakeholders to accommodate returnees destined for the capital.
In a separate development, Cabinet approved the Municipal Police and Courts Bill, which seeks to strengthen local governance by creating a legal framework for professional municipal police services. The proposed legislation also provides for the establishment of municipal courts to handle municipal by-law offences, traffic violations and other minor criminal matters. Government said the Bill is intended to improve service delivery, strengthen devolution and enhance public safety across local authorities.
