Bulawayo churches overwhelmed as thousands flee South Africa

Information Minister Zhemu Soda confirmed that 78,112 Zimbabwean nationals returned from South Africa since May amid rising xenophobia fears. The government assisted 21,291 returnees with repatriation arrangements, while 56,832 individuals funded their own journeys home. However, local civil society groups criticized the state's response, calling the reintegration measures inadequate for the scale of the influx. Local churches and private charities in Bulawayo report being overwhelmed by the daily arrival of stranded families. The sudden influx of returnees places immense pressure on the country's already strained social services and public infrastructure.