By Staff Writer - The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) says no returning citizen should be left to face reintegration alone, after hosting a high-level monitoring visit in Beitbridge to assess its migration response work.
On 5 November 2026, ZCC welcomed a Diakonia delegation led by Program Manager Tendai Pikirayi and Finance Officer Rosemary Bopoto, under the South Africa Migration Response Project.
The team visited the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre, where they met the Beitbridge District Development Coordinator's (DDC) office, ZCC local church leaders, IOM and the Red Cross to witness first-hand how returnees are received.
Speaking during the visit, ZCC officials said the work is about far more than handouts.
"For us, this response goes beyond providing immediate assistance. It is about upholding human dignity, offering compassion and ensuring that returning migrants are not left to navigate the challenges of reintegration alone," a ZCC representative said.
"Returning citizens often arrive exhausted, distressed and uncertain about what lies ahead. Meeting them with a safe journey onward, basic necessities and a listening ear is what dignified return should look like."
With support from Diakonia, ZCC has now reached more than 2,000 individuals with cross-sectoral support, including bus fares for onward travel for vulnerable migrants, hygiene care packages, blankets, and psychosocial and spiritual care.
The DDC's office commended ZCC for the intervention, saying the support had made a real difference at the border.
"We commend ZCC's work, made possible through Diakonia's support, and we reiterate that such efforts should continue," the DDC's office said.
ZCC said it will continue to stand with returning citizens, ensuring they are received with dignity, care and hope as they rebuild their lives back home.
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