Over 100 Zambians register for voluntary return from South Africa as Xenophobia fears rise

More than 100 Zambians have registered their intention to return home under the voluntary repatriation exercise being undertaken by the government, following the rise in Xenophobic attacks in South Africa, authorities have said.

Zambia Monitor had reported in May this year that 47 Zambian nationals were successfully repatriated from South Africa to Zambia under the ongoing programme through collaboration with the various government agencies

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Permanent Secretary, Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, confirmed this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday.

Gundersen said on Saturday, 20 June 2026, teams from the Zambia High Commission were deployed to Durban and East London to assist Zambian nationals and coordinate the repatriation exercise.

She said the government had continued facilitating the voluntary repatriation of Zambian nationals wishing to return home following anti-immigration protests reported in some parts of South Africa.

“The exercise is intended to assist Zambians who have voluntarily expressed a desire to return to Zambia, while the Mission continues to closely monitor developments in collaboration with the relevant South African authorities,” Gundersen stated.

She said the government and the various stakeholders were currently facilitating the repatriation of the registered nationals in collaboration with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and other relevant stakeholders.

Gundersen said the Zambia High Commission was encouraging all Zambian nationals residing in South Africa to register on ZamSA Connect, an online registration platform established to maintain an up-to-date database of Zambians living in the country.

“The platform enables the Mission to communicate more effectively with citizens and provide timely consular assistance whenever necessary,” she said.

Gundersen concluded with an assurance to members of the public that no Zambian national had been reported injured in connection with the anti-immigration protests.

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