By Virginia Njovo
Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has emphasised the need to strengthen Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response services, psychosocial support and economic empowerment for women and children in reception centres and during transit to their respective destinations.
This has come to her attention after some reports show that 74 percent of the 110 000 returnees are women and children, while men dominate the remaining percentage.
She noted that from the day the repatriation process started, two women were sexually abused during transit, one in Polokwane and one in Beitbridge, but not in the reception centre.
Speaking during the handover of the consignment of 1 000 dignity kits from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and 10 000 tonnes of rice from the Zimbabwean Government through MWACSMED held at the Beitbridge Reception Centre on July 2026, Minister Mutsvangwa said women and children should get protection from GBV as well as the provision of psychosocial support at the reception centre.
“To address the specific gender dimensions of this crisis, my Ministry is actively working alongside the government ministries, development partners and humanitarian organisations; together we are strengthening gender responsive reintegration strategies and enhancing the mechanisms for Gender Base4d Violence prevention response. This whole effort is to ensure that the unique needs of women and girls are prioritized in every intervention.They should also get psychosocial support through counselling and emotional assistance to help returnees cope with trauma, stress and challenges associated with displacement and reintegration,” said Mutsvangwa.
She assured the returnees that they were not alone in the current challenging phase of their life, her Ministry will assist them with some of the skills relevant to income generation through existing structures, which were already helping women in Zimbabwe.
“While the road to recovery may be challenging, I want to assure you, our returnees, that you will not walk it alone; we call upon you to join our train of progress by embracing economic empowerment opportunities and being GBV prevention champions.
“Consider joining the Women’s Bank for access to loans, participating in internal savings and lending schemes in your villages as well as becoming part of cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are engines of our national growth. Government and partners are available to support your journey toward healing, resilience and renewed hope,” added Mutsvangwa.
During her solidarity speech, UNFPA country Director Tabifor Miranda said the UN family was committed to immediate restoration of dignity, safety and protection as well as long-term reintegration.
“In close collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe through MWACSMED, we are committed to various critical pillars of action, including the immediate restoration of dignity; that is why we are handing over these dignity kits where we expect every woman and adolescent girl receiving one as they provides essential health supplies and hygiene supplies as well as self-worth that serve as the first step towards restoring the sense of self-worth.
“We are also working to ensure that transit facilities are safe spaces where no woman or girl has to fear for security,” said Tabifor.
In an interview with TellZim News, one of the returnees, Chiedza Vannessa Chekudya, expressed her gratitude to the government of Zimbabwe for ensuring safe return.
“I want to thank the Government of Zimbabwe for ensuring that we have come back home safely. I was doing my business in South Africa, and I managed to bring my equipment I was using to start over here in Zimbabwe, and I also want to encourage those who are afraid to come back home not to worry, as the welcome is warm,” said Chekudya.
Zimbabweans who are in South Africa and are exposed to the violence and attacks are encouraged to go to Zimbabwean Consulates and Embassies near them or even the Police Stations so that they can be safely transported home. A total of 463 trips are made in the process.
