Perceptions of Zimbabwean migrants in Gauteng on ‘returning home’ and ‘rebuilding the country’

Abstract

Research on Zimbabwean migrants has shown that there is an increasing propensity to relocate to more affluent parts of the world for study and work purposes. This study is based on the perceptions of Zimbabwean migrants in Gauteng on ‘returning home’ and ‘rebuilding’. The migrants represent different ethnic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds. The study endeavours to understand, analyse and discuss Zimbabwean migration taking into consideration the Zimbabwean context and how it may or may not influence the decision making process. The study focuses first, on the initial factors that entice Zimbabweans to migrate. Second, the ‘motivating factors’ if any for returning home to work and rebuild the country is considered. The findings of this small scale explorative study reveal that Zimbabwean migrants are reluctant to return home and rebuild the country before economic and political stability is restored in Zimbabwe; some ambivalence is evident. The migrants in this study had migrated to South Africa for a number of reasons; economic factors were however, the major motive. They have been exposed to both negative and positive experiences in South Africa. The prospect of employment and goal attainment are the major pull factor for migration to South Africa. The nostalgic feelings the migrants have towards Zimbabwe are characteristic of a diaspora. They have ‘dreams’ of returning home and rebuilding the country when the economic and political climate is conducive to do so. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa. AFRIKAANS : Navorsing oor Zimbabwiese migrante dui aan dat daar ’n toenemende neiging is om te verhuis na meer welgestelde dele van die wêreld vir werk en studie doeleindes. Hierdie studie is gebaseer op Zimbabwiese migrante in Gauteng se persepsies oor ‘terugkeer’ na en ‘heropbou’ van hul land. Die migrante verteenwoordig verskillende etniese-, ras- en sosio-ekonomiese agtergronde. Die studie strewe om Zimbabwiese migrasie te verstaan, analiseer en bespreek, deur, in ag te neem hoe die konteks in Zimbabwe die besluitnemingsproses kan beïnvloed, of nie. Die studie focus eerstens op interne faktore wat Zimbawiërs aanmoedig om te migreer. Tweedens word motiverings-faktore om terug te keer vir werk en die heropou van die land, indien enige, oorweeg. Die bevindinge van hierdie klein-skaal verkennende studie toon aan dat die Zimbabwiese migrante onwillig is om terug te keer en die land te heropbou, voor ekonomiese en politieke stabiliteit in Zimbabwe herstel is; hul ambivalensie is duidelik. Die migrante in die studie het na Suid-Afrika, vir ’n reeks redes migreer, met ekonomiese faktore die vernaamste motief. Hulle is blootgestel aan beide positiewe en negatiewe ervaringe in Suid-Afrika. Die vooruitsig vir werk en doelbereiking is die vernaamste trekfaktor vir migrasie na Suid-Afrika. Die nostalgiese gevoelens wat migrante jeens Zimbabwe huldig is kenmerkend van ’n diaspora (verstooiing). Hulle ‘droom’ van terugkeer na en heropbou van die land wanneer die ekonomiese en politieke klimaat bevorderlik daarvoor is. Die studie dra by tot literatuur oor Zimbabwiese migrante in Suid-Afrika. Copyright