By A Correspondent – Rising xenophobic violence in South Africa in 2026 has intensified the forced repatriation of Zimbabwean migrants, with women and children bearing the heaviest burden. The Masvingo Women Rights Advocacy Group (MWRAG) documented 23 cases of abuse at ports of entry and bus stations during the current wave of repatriations.

Regional studies estimate that 40% of migrant women experience sexual abuse, harassment, or exploitation during displacement, underscoring the scale of the crisis.Many Zimbabwean women had established livelihoods in domestic service, agriculture, informal trading, and hospitality. Forced repatriation has stripped them of homes, businesses, and savings, leaving them destitute and vulnerable.

Advocacy groups report that women often arrive traumatized, having endured sexual assault, workplace exploitation, and xenophobic harassment during transit. Adolescent girls, especially those travelling without family support, face heightened risks of trafficking and sexual exploitation.Reception centres in Zimbabwe remain poorly resourced.

Overcrowding, inadequate shelter, and lack of privacy expose women to further abuse. Survivors of sexual violence often lack urgent medical care, while pregnant women and nursing mothers struggle to access maternal health services. Reports show that one in three women arriving at border reception points requires immediate sexual and reproductive health support, yet facilities frequently lack dignity kits, menstrual hygiene products, and emergency medication.Children face their own challenges.

Many experience interrupted schooling, malnutrition, and trauma linked to displacement. Without psychosocial support, these experiences risk long-term harm to their wellbeing and development. Families living with chronic illnesses or special nutritional needs are particularly disadvantaged, as shortages of medication and food supplies compound their vulnerability.

MWRAG has called for urgent action. They demand gender-responsive reception centres offering safe accommodation, clean water, food, clothing, and comprehensive healthcare. Protection services for survivors of gender-based violence, child-friendly spaces, and trauma-healing programmes must be prioritized. Beyond emergency aid, sustainable measures such as livelihood restoration programmes, cash assistance, and educational support for children are essential to rebuild lives and reduce reliance on harmful coping mechanisms.

This crisis highlights a humanitarian imperative: ensuring the safety, dignity, and empowerment of women and children during and after forced repatriation. Without decisive intervention, Zimbabwe risks entrenching cycles of poverty, trauma, and exploitation among its most vulnerable citizens.This version sharpens the narrative, strengthens the statistics, and makes the call to action more urgent.