The Government says it has registered 65,000 Zimbabweans who returned from South Africa as part of a national skills audit.
The exercise, being run by the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development at the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre, is meant to guide policy and help returnees reintegrate into the mainstream economy. The centre continues to receive returnees daily.
Deputy Director for Skills Gap, Lesley Chakundura, revealed the figures to the Joint Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Peace and Security, Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services during a verification visit to Beitbridge on Monday.
She said the data will inform the Zimbabwe Global Skills Partnership Programme (ZGSPP).
“The skills audit is aimed at identifying the talents that returnees bring back home so that we can match them to opportunities,” said Chakundura.
She said those registered include engineers, pharmacists, teachers and nurses, adding that many returnees have skills but lack formal certificates.
“In partnership with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, we have arranged bridging courses to enable them to obtain certificates and trade tests,” she said.
Chakundura said the Ministry is working with the Ministry of Women Affairs and other Government departments on empowerment programmes targeting returnees.
“Our main constraint is resources to help people with start-up capital,” she said.
“However, compiling this database will help the Government in comprehensive policy formulation to ensure seamless re-integration of those with special skills.”
The database is expected to help the Government provide targeted support in sectors such as agriculture, construction, health and manufacturing, while reducing duplication of training and ensuring that returnees’ skills are properly used.
More than 45,000 Zimbabweans have been brought home from South Africa by the Government, while another 130,000 returned on their own in recent weeks following xenophobic attacks.
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