The video was recorded at Jumbo mine, in Mazowe, during a police operation against illegal miners.
This post on X (formerly Twitter) claiming Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is beating up deportees from South Africa is FALSE.
“The Zimbabwe police are beating up deportees from South Africa and asking, “Why were you going there in the first place?” Zimbabwean Police are brutal,” reads the post.
A video circulating on social media shows the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Support Unit assaulting and harassing people, some even rolling on the ground. The timing of the circulation, coincides with the period, Zimbabweans and other African countries nationals are facing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The government of Zimbabwe has openly welcomed deportees, provided transport and facilitated smooth immigration procedures at the borders. All Zimbabweans who were in South Africa legally or illegally are being assisted.
The video in circulation creates an impression that Zimbabweans running away from the violent attacks in South Africa are not better off, even in their own country.
Since 28 May 2026, the government of Zimbabwe has assisted in repatriating approximately 21, 291 people through a government assisted program.
Did the Zimbabwe Republic Police beat the deportees from South Africa?
A Google Images Reverse Search shows that the video was recorded at Jumbo Mine during a recent police operation against artisanal miners.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police also dismissed the viral video as false and misleading, citing that these are not returning deportees but illegal miners in a police operation in Jumbo mine, Mazowe.
“The ZRP dismisses a viral social media post on a video with claims that police officers are assaulting or targeting returning immigrants from South Africa at the Beitbridge Border Post. For the record, the video in question relates to a mining operation incident at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe sometime back. It has nothing to do at all with returning residents from South Africa or the situation at Beitbridge Border Post. The ZRP therefore dismisses as false and misleading social media claims alleging that police officers are conducting an operation targeting returning immigrants. Investigations have now been instituted to account for those who are peddling false information through abuse or misuse of social media platforms,” said the police in a statement.
The Besana Mail – Zim Truth Radar examined an X post claiming Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is beating up deportees from South Africa, and found it to be FALSE.
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