Zimbabwe evicts climate migrants as crackdown intensifies in Eastern Highlands

Zimbabwe’s climate migrants face eviction as a government crackdown intensifies in the fertile Eastern Highlands, where thousands settled after droughts rendered their original homelands uninhabitable. On 15 June 2026, Al Jazeera reported that families who fled worsening arid conditions in southern Zimbabwe now risk losing their makeshift homes under a state-led enforcement drive targeting illegal settlements. The crackdown follows years of displacement driven by recurring droughts that have devastated agricultural livelihoods across the region.

Many of the migrants arrived in the Eastern Highlands between 2020 and 2024, when successive droughts left the provinces of Masvingo and Matabeleland South unable to support subsistence farming. The highlands, with their higher rainfall and arable land, offered a temporary refuge, but authorities now argue that the influx has strained local resources and violated land-use regulations. Local officials in Manicaland Province, where most migrants resettled, have begun dismantling structures and issuing eviction notices, citing zoning violations and environmental concerns.

The situation has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who warn that forced removals could exacerbate a humanitarian crisis. “These families did not choose to leave their homes; they were forced by climate change,” said a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association. “Evicting them now without providing alternative housing or livelihood support is both unjust and counterproductive.” The government has not responded publicly to the criticism, though state media have framed the operation as necessary to restore order and protect fragile ecosystems.

The crackdown coincides with broader regional discussions on climate-induced migration, though Zimbabwe’s approach contrasts with policies elsewhere. In Central Asia, five countries have been collaborating since May 2026 to address shared water scarcity challenges, adopting joint water management strategies to mitigate the effects of prolonged droughts . Meanwhile, in Astana on 11 June 2026, regional leaders convened to discuss critical mineral supply chains, highlighting how climate pressures are reshaping economic priorities across continents .

For Zimbabwe’s displaced communities, the immediate future remains uncertain. Some have begun organizing protests, while others are quietly preparing to move again—this time, further into the highlands or across the border into Mozambique. With the government showing no signs of halting the evictions, the crisis risks deepening unless a sustainable solution is found that balances legal enforcement with humanitarian needs.