Traffickers are dumping illegal immigrants destined for South Africa in Zimbabwe due to continuous lockdown regulations.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) regional director for southern Africa, Charles Kwenini said this week it had assisted more than 100 stranded immigrants return home.
Kwenini said the closure of borders had worsened the plight of immigrants from across the continent that were braving the threats of Covid-19 to seek greener pastures in South Africa.
IOM said between April and May its centres in Zimbabwe had handled 5,400 immigrants arriving from Zambia, Malawi, DRC, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa.
Mr Kwenin said it was necessary to have a regional response to illegal immigration in the midst of the pandemic.
