Zimbabwe has set up temporary shelters for scores of its nationals leaving South Africa amid renewed threats of xenophobic attacks on foreigners.

The director of local Civil Protection Unit (CPU), Mr Madzudzo Pawadyira, said they had since put tents at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) centre in Beit Bridge to accommodate an anticipated influx of victims fleeing the attacks. "We have put three big tents in Beit Bridge, 10 000 blankets, 20 boxes of detergent and 1 000 buckets for use by our people in the event of attacks. The same measures have also been put in place at Plumtree Border Post to cater for those returning from Botswana," he said.

Scores of Zimbabweans working and living in South Africa are returning home after the Soccer World Cup, following rumours of xenophobic violence. Pawadyira said there had been a sharp increase in the number of Zimbabweans entering that country through Beit Bridge Border Post since the end of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. "Most of the people who were in South Africa are sending their children back home. Then you have those who are coming back because their usefulness in South Africa is no longer required. We have put contingency plans in place, in partnership with United Nations agencies such as International Organisation for Migration, other organisations such as Medicins Sans Frontieres, Care International and World Vision."