Only about 12 percent of the Zimbabwean migrants who cross the border into South Africa - estimated at between one million and more than three million by analysts - stay in the northern province of Limpopo for more than six months, says a new report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
IOM spokesman Nde Ndifonka told IRIN: "it's not just a case of [a migrant] going once [to South Africa]; they are going back and forth repeatedly."
The report, Migrants' Needs and Vulnerabilities in the Limpopo Province, Republic of South Africa, is based on a study of the nature and trends of the exodus, and details both the ebb and flow of the migration and the threats encountered by migrants.
"The intention to stay in South Africa over the longer term did not mean that respondents were unwilling to go back to Zimbabwe. While many intend to stay in South Africa for longer than six months, the reality is [that] barely 12 percent actually stayed for more than six months," the report said.
The nature of the migration provides criminal gangs operating along the South African and Zimbabwean borders, known as malaishas (smugglers) and mgumagumas (thieves), with repeated opportunities to rob and rape migrants.
"Many of them experience violence at the hands of malaishas or mgumagumas, and because of the unequal power relations between the perpetrators and the victims, many migrants were unable to defend themselves or seek retribution. On the other hand, perpetrators committed these acts of violence and crime with impunity and little fear of authorities," the report noted.
The research was conducted between February and March 2009, in the wake of the formation of the Zimbabwe unity government, and was compiled from group discussions with migrants in the South African border town of Musina, as well 1,128 interviews at other sites; 214 were unaccompanied minors, 75 percent of whom were boys.
Of the unaccompanied minors, 18 percent told of experiencing violence or robbery on the border crossing and showed "signs of deep psychological trauma from the horrendous experiences they went through", Ndifonka said.
About 60 percent of the respondents were young adults between the ages of 18 and 34, and came from Zimbabwe's central and southern provinces of Masvingo (34 percent), Midlands (19 percent), and Matabeleland South (18 percent), while the northeastern and northwestern region, including the capital, Harare, accounted for just over a quarter.
About 84 percent of interviewees cited their economic situation as the main reason for migrating - mirroring Zimbabwe's estimated 94 percent unemployment rate - while 6 percent said they had fled Zimbabwe because of political, religious or ethnic persecution; 41 percent were in possession of asylum seeker permits.
"In the absence of other legal migration channels, it would appear as though the asylum process remains the only available option to many," the report commented.
South Africa was on the verge of introducing a special entry permit for Zimbabweans, but after the April 2009 general elections the African National Congress government, which was returned to power with a slightly diminished majority, decided to put the initiative on hold.
Remittances
Although the desire to find a job drove most Zimbabwean migrants to cross the border, South Africa's stubbornly high levels of unemployment, despite having the continent's largest economy, meant 55 percent of respondents were earning less than R1,000 (US$130) per month.
A consistent thread running through the interviews was the need to send money to Zimbabwe, which was used overwhelmingly to buy food. Nearly three-quarters said at least one person in Zimbabwe was dependent on their income, while more than half said four or more people relied on their remittances to survive.
Among the survey's recommendations were that counselling and support services be set up in Musina for migrants who suffered violence during the border crossing, particularly women and unaccompanied minors.
These services should also be extended to Makhado, a town about 100km south of Musina, and to private farms, where large numbers of migrants were employed as farm workers.
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IOM spokesman Nde Ndifonka told IRIN: "it's not just a case of [a migrant] going once [to South Africa]; they are going back and forth repeatedly."
The report, Migrants' Needs and Vulnerabilities in the Limpopo Province, Republic of South Africa, is based on a study of the nature and trends of the exodus, and details both the ebb and flow of the migration and the threats encountered by migrants.
"The intention to stay in South Africa over the longer term did not mean that respondents were unwilling to go back to Zimbabwe. While many intend to stay in South Africa for longer than six months, the reality is [that] barely 12 percent actually stayed for more than six months," the report said.
The nature of the migration provides criminal gangs operating along the South African and Zimbabwean borders, known as malaishas (smugglers) and mgumagumas (thieves), with repeated opportunities to rob and rape migrants.
"Many of them experience violence at the hands of malaishas or mgumagumas, and because of the unequal power relations between the perpetrators and the victims, many migrants were unable to defend themselves or seek retribution. On the other hand, perpetrators committed these acts of violence and crime with impunity and little fear of authorities," the report noted.
 Many of them experience violence at the hands of malaishas or mgumagumas, and because of the unequal power relations between the perpetrators and the victims, many migrants were unable to defend themselves or seek retribution |
Of the unaccompanied minors, 18 percent told of experiencing violence or robbery on the border crossing and showed "signs of deep psychological trauma from the horrendous experiences they went through", Ndifonka said.
About 60 percent of the respondents were young adults between the ages of 18 and 34, and came from Zimbabwe's central and southern provinces of Masvingo (34 percent), Midlands (19 percent), and Matabeleland South (18 percent), while the northeastern and northwestern region, including the capital, Harare, accounted for just over a quarter.
About 84 percent of interviewees cited their economic situation as the main reason for migrating - mirroring Zimbabwe's estimated 94 percent unemployment rate - while 6 percent said they had fled Zimbabwe because of political, religious or ethnic persecution; 41 percent were in possession of asylum seeker permits.
"In the absence of other legal migration channels, it would appear as though the asylum process remains the only available option to many," the report commented.
South Africa was on the verge of introducing a special entry permit for Zimbabweans, but after the April 2009 general elections the African National Congress government, which was returned to power with a slightly diminished majority, decided to put the initiative on hold.
Remittances
Although the desire to find a job drove most Zimbabwean migrants to cross the border, South Africa's stubbornly high levels of unemployment, despite having the continent's largest economy, meant 55 percent of respondents were earning less than R1,000 (US$130) per month.
A consistent thread running through the interviews was the need to send money to Zimbabwe, which was used overwhelmingly to buy food. Nearly three-quarters said at least one person in Zimbabwe was dependent on their income, while more than half said four or more people relied on their remittances to survive.
Among the survey's recommendations were that counselling and support services be set up in Musina for migrants who suffered violence during the border crossing, particularly women and unaccompanied minors.
These services should also be extended to Makhado, a town about 100km south of Musina, and to private farms, where large numbers of migrants were employed as farm workers.
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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