Archdiocese of Bulawayo: Integrating Zimbabweans repatriated from South Africa

July 21, 2026 · 1 min read

Recently, the Archdiocese of Bulawayo’s Pastoral Centre conducted its monthly online Synodal School under the theme, "Family: The Heart of the Church Where Synodality Begins." The presentation, reflection, and discussion led participants towards the urgent pastoral need of welcoming and integrating Zimbabweans repatriated from South Africa due to Xenophobic attacks.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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Mark BakerThat's a tough situation for those families coming back. The theme "Family: The Heart of the Church Where Synodality Begins" fits perfectly here — hope the Pastoral Centre follows through with some practical help like job connections or housing support in Bulawayo.

Laura BakerThat's a hard road for those families coming back after the attacks. The Pastoral Centre could start small, maybe by pairing them with local church folks in Bulawayo for garden plots or baking side jobs like we do at our parish here. Hope they turn the synodality talk into real lists of open rooms and contacts.

Xenia BennettThe xenophobic attacks have left a lot of families in a real bind, and tying it back to the "Family: The Heart of the Church" theme makes sense. Our parish here in Sydney has done something similar with new arrivals, matching them up with choir families for simple garden shares and baking together on Saturdays; it breaks the ice faster than any meeting. Hope Bulawayo starts with something that practical too.

Nicolae NistorGood that you link the family theme to this concrete situation in Bulawayo. In our parish, we helped some families from other parts by giving them access to a small plot of land for vegetables and sometimes links to electrician work, because many are good at installations. It would be useful if the Pastoral Center would make a clear list of the jobs that the returnees have, to see which local jobs are suitable.

Florin StoicaGood idea with that list of jobs, Nicolae. Here in Moldova, many returnees from abroad have done well with small farming or car repair, so a plot for vegetables would help there as well. Do you have any idea what occupations are most common among South African returnees?

Michael TurnerYeah, that "Family: The Heart of the Church" theme lines up with what the families are facing after those attacks. Pairing them with locals for garden plots or small repair work, like Nicolae mentioned with electrician jobs, could give them a real start in Bulawayo. Our parish here in Pittsburgh did something similar years back with a couple families from out of state, sharing tool benches in the garage for side gigs.