Godfrey Tawodzera - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Godfrey Tawodzera
Geographical Education Magazine, 2004
Within the context of demographic growth, rapid urbanization and rising urban poverty which chara... more Within the context of demographic growth, rapid urbanization and rising urban poverty which characterizes much of Sub-Saharan Africa in the 21 st Century, this thesis examines the urban poor's vulnerability to food insecurity and analyses the strategies that households adopt to enhance their resilience in this challenging environment. Harare is the study site, providing an acute example of a city (and country) 'in crisis', and a context in which formal food markets have failed to meet the needs of the urban poor, within a generalized collapse of the economy. The central question, then, is how do the urban poor meet their food needs under such conditions of extreme material deprivation? In addressing this question, the study usefully combines qualitative and quantitative research methods, consisting of in-depth household case studies and key-informant interviews, and a standardized survey questionnaire. The literature on food security and livelihoods has mainly focused on the rural sector, with limited attention being paid to those strategies that poor households use to feed themselves under conditions of adversity in the urban environment. This thesis therefore locates itself within the nascent urban livelihoods literature, and contributes to the emerging field of urban food security in the following important ways: First, the persistence and vitality of the informal sector underpins the household urban economy, thereby challenging orthodox development perspectives that consider this economy as 'saturated'. Second, urban-rural remittances no longer dominate the social economy, and the predominant flow of resources is now from rural to urban households in Harare. This is creating 'new' forms of linkages where food and even money transfers from the rural area have become key to the survival of households that are vulnerable to economic fluctuations in the urban environment. Third, urban households employ demographic coping strategies to reduce their food requirements by sending some members to the rural areas, despite the more limited availability of social and physical infrastructure outside the city. Fourth, international migration is an important new survival strategy for urban households that traditionally have not been known to have strong linkages with the outside world. These linkages facilitate the movement of goods, food and monetary remittances, which are increasingly becoming important safety valves for urban migrant households. Thus migration has become a key dimension of urban livelihoods, with household members moving both domestically and internationally. Fifth, in light of these findings, the study makes a methodological contribution by engaging in the discourse on redefining the concept of the household, particularly with relevance to food security. In contrast to the view of a monolithic co-resident household of shared tasks and decision-making theorized by earlier writers, the struggle for survival and livelihood in the city has split the urban household into separate, but mutually supportive units whose activities, composition and location remain highly fluid-it is this fluidity which enables the household to construct multi-spatial livelihoods that are key to survival of the urban poor. vi Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the generous scholarship availed to me by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Programme in Urban Food Security (PUFS) at the University of Cape Town. For this support, I am eternally grateful. I am indebted to the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences for providing me with a home for the duration of my study at the University of Cape Town. I owe a debt of gratitude to the many individuals who inspired me and contributed in making this thesis a reality. While it is difficult to mention all these people by name, I would like to assure those whose names I fail to mention here that their various contributions, in whatever form, are deeply appreciated. Any mistakes, omissions or errors in this work however remain my responsibility. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Dr. Bruce Frayne, for his enthusiasm, unparalleled expert advice, unwavering support and continuous guidance through all the stages of writing this thesis. I also extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Jane Battersby-Lennard, for her constructive criticism and useful suggestions that contributed immensely to shaping this thesis. I am deeply indebted to Professor Jonathan Crush, for his incisive comments, as well as the informative signposts that he expeditiously rendered. Professor Sue Parnell, your advice, suggestions and constant encouragement helped me to remain focused. I am humbled by the concern shown by all my supervisors and will forever remain grateful. I also extend my appreciation to all the members of staff in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences (EGS) at UCT who, either singly or collectively helped me in many different ways for the duration of my study. In particular I would like to thank Dr. Pippin Anderson, the postgraduate co-coordinator, for her constant encouragement and Sharon Adams as well as Shahieda Samsodien for their efficient handling of various administrative issues. To Ndeyapo Nickanor and Mutale Chileshe, our various discussions enlightened me more than I could ever acknowledge. In Zimbabwe, I would like to thank the following: Dr. Lazarus Zanamwe and staff of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Zimbabwe, for providing me with institutional support while I was conducting my fieldwork in the country; Mr Kizito Muhomba, the Executive Secretary of Epworth Local Board, for facilitating my smooth entry into the field and tolerating my numerous requests for information; Mr Psychology Chiwanga of the City of Harare for helping with information at 1 CHAPTER ONE URBAN GROWTH, POVERTY AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY 1.1 2003 (Government of Zimbabwe, 2006). By November 2008, up to 80 percent of the population was estimated to be surviving on less than US$2 per day (Chimhowu, 2009:1). 5 The last official statistics for hyperinflation in the country put the figure at 231 million percent in October 2008 (RBZ, 2008). Independent statistics however indicate that hyperinflation peaked at 500 billion percent in December 2008 (Chimhowu, 2009:1). 6 Since the beginning of the fast-track land reform programme in 2000, the country has experienced severe food shortages: maize deficits of 1.0 million tonnes for the 2006-07 season and 840 thousand tonnes for the 2008-09 season. Production estimates for the 2009-10 season indicate that over 680 thousand tonnes will be needed to meet the maize deficit (
This policy brief is informed by the findings of the ESRC/ DFID-funded Consuming Urban Poverty Pr... more This policy brief is informed by the findings of the ESRC/ DFID-funded Consuming Urban Poverty Project (CUP) (formally called "Governing Food Systems to Alleviate Poverty in Secondary Cities in Africa") on work carried out in low-income neighbourhoods of Kitwe, Zambia, from 2016 to 2017. The central focus of the study was to understand the connections between poverty, governance and urban space. This brief presents key findings related to infrastructure and makes policy recommendations that seek to enable multiple development-related benefits through alternative approaches to improved infrastructure.
Land
Due to the heterogeneity among households across locations, predicting the impacts of stay-at-hom... more Due to the heterogeneity among households across locations, predicting the impacts of stay-at-home mitigation and lockdown strategies for COVID-19 control is crucial. In this study, we quantitatively assessed the effects of the Namibia government’s lockdown control measures on food insecurity in urban informal settlements with a focus on Windhoek, Namibia. We developed three types of conditional regression models to predict food insecurity prevalence (FIP) scenarios incorporating household frequency of food purchase (FFP) as the impacting factor, based on the Hungry Cities Food Matrix. Empirical data were derived from the 2017 African Food Security Urban Network (AFSUN) Windhoek study and applied univariate probit and bivariate partial observability models to postulate the relation between food insecurity and FFP within the context of stay-at-home disease mitigation strategy. The findings showed that FFP was positively correlated with the prevalence of food insecurity (r = 0.057, 95...
Spaza shops are an essential component of the South African township economy as they provide vita... more Spaza shops are an essential component of the South African township economy as they provide vital goods, employment and an income to most township dwellers. Despite this, the sustainability of spaza shops has been problematic, with most closing down within the first few years of operation. Against this backdrop, this paper assessed the scope and operation of spaza shops in the Mankweng area to understand the problems that inhibit their viability. A quantitative approach that utilised structured and closedended questionnaire was adopted to collect data from 50 spaza shop owners. A GPS device provided the coordinates utilised to map the spatial distribution of the spaza shops in the area. Most of the spaza shops surveyed were foreign owned with thepreponderance of Ethiopians (34 per cent) and Somalians (34 per cent). South African spaza shop owners constituted only 26 per cent of the sample. The study notes that although spaza shops generate income for their owners and are integral t...
Geographical Education Magazine, 2003
Springer eBooks, Nov 3, 2022
AFRICAN HUMAN MOBILITY REVIEW, 2017
Zimbabwe has witnessed a rapid expansion of informal cross border trading (ICBT) with neighbourin... more Zimbabwe has witnessed a rapid expansion of informal cross border trading (ICBT) with neighbouring countries over the past two and a half decades. That expansion has largely been due to a persistent decline in the economy since the introduction of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) in the 1990s, which led to the closure of many industries, increased unemployment and forced many people into the informal sector. This 2014 study sought to provide a current picture of ICBT in Zimbabwe by interviewing 514 informal entrepreneurs involved in ICBT between Harare (Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg (South Africa). The sample profile revealed that ICBT in Zimbabwe is dominated by females and young adults and that traders are fairly educated. The study results demonstrate the important role played by ICBT in the survival of households in the country.
AFRICAN HUMAN MOBILITY REVIEW, 2017
This paper is a contribution to our understanding of the intertwined economic and political crise... more This paper is a contribution to our understanding of the intertwined economic and political crises in Zimbabwe and the crisis of xenophobia in South Africa. There have been few studies to date specifically examining the impact of xenophobic violence on Zimbabweans trying to make a living in the South African informal economy. The paper first provides a picture of Zimbabwean migrant entrepreneurship using survey data from a 2015 study of migrants in the informal economy. All of the Zimbabwean entrepreneurs interviewed in depth for the study in 2016 had either witnessed or been the victims of xenophobic violence or both. The interviews focused on the experience and impact of xenophobic violence on personal safety and business operations. The migrant accounts clearly demonstrate that they see xenophobia as a key driver of the hostility, looting and violence that they experience. The paper argues that the deep-rooted crisis in Zimbabwe, which has driven many to South Africa in the first...
African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, 2018
Urban Forum, 2014
In 2008, Zimbabwe was in crisis, with an economy in ruins and a volatile political environment. T... more In 2008, Zimbabwe was in crisis, with an economy in ruins and a volatile political environment. The country's GDP had contracted by over 40 % since 2,000 level; the official unemployment rate was over 80 %; hyperinflation was running at over 200 million percent; and food production deficits of the staple crop, maize, hovered around 1,000,000 tons. Within this hyperinflationary environment, food shortages were acute, and over 80 % of households in the country survived on less than US$2 per day. While this deleterious environment affected the whole country, the vulnerability of the urban poor to the economic meltdown and food insecurity was especially severe given their heavy reliance on food purchases and increases in other urban expenses such as rent, electricity, and transport. This paper assesses the vulnerability of poor households to food insecurity in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, under the crisis conditions and beyond. It argues that while the ushering in of the Government of National Unity in 2009 stabilized the political and economic situation by bringing down inflation, introducing a multi-currency regime, and improving the food supply, the general livelihoods of the poor did not drastically improve. The food security challenges facing poor urban households in Harare did not immediately improve for reasons that are discussed in the paper. The analysis is based on a comparison of data from two household surveys conducted in Harare, the first at the height of the crisis in 2008 and the second in 2012.
Urban transformations, Jan 19, 2023
South Africa's major cities are periodically wracked by large-scale xenophobic violence directed ... more South Africa's major cities are periodically wracked by large-scale xenophobic violence directed at migrants and refugees from other countries. Informal sector businesses and their migrant owners and employees are particularly vulnerable targets during these attacks. Migrant-owned businesses are also targeted on a regular basis in smaller-scale looting and destruction of property. There is now a large literature on the characteristics and causes of xenophobic violence and attitudes in South Africa, most of it based on quantitative and qualitative research in the country's major metropolitan areas. One of the consequences of big-city xenophobia has been a search for alternative markets and safer spaces by migrants, including relocating to the country's many smaller urban centres. The question addressed in this paper is whether they are welcomed in these cities and towns or subject to the same kinds of victimization as in large cities. This paper is the first to systematically examine this question by focusing on a group of towns in Limpopo Province and the experiences of migrants in the informal sector there. Through survey evidence and in-depth interviews and focus groups with migrant and South African vendors, the paper demonstrates that xenophobia is also pervasive in these smaller centres, in ways that both echo and differ from that in the large cities. The findings in this paper have broader significance for other countries attempting to deal with the rise of xenophobia.
Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) is a significant feature of regional trade and international m... more Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) is a significant feature of regional trade and international mobility in Southern Africa. The exact number of participants and economic importance of this trade is unknown because no official statistics are collected. Despite its obvious presence at every border post throughout the SADC region, ICBT remains largely invisible to policy-makers. Indeed, in government circles it is more often associated with smuggling, tax evasion and illegality than with innovation, enterprise and job creation. On the research side, there is a growing body of case study evidence that ICBT plays a critical role in poverty alleviation, food security and household livelihoods in Southern Africa. But its overall character and significance is unknown. With this in mind, SAMP initiated a project to examine cross-border regional trade at a selection of important border posts throughout the region. This research led to a number of country reports that provided rich insights i...
Migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa has been extremely well-documented by researchers. In thi... more Migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa has been extremely well-documented by researchers. In this paper, we suggest that there is a need to periodize these migration flows in order to understand how and why they have changed over time, not simply in terms of the volume of migration but the changing drivers of migration and the shifting nature of the migrant stream. Few previous studies have taken a longitudinal approach to Zimbabwean migration, primarily because most research takes place at one point in time. SAMP is in the fortunate position of having a large database at its disposal which allows us to compare migration from Zimbabwe at three different points in time: 1997, 2005 and 2010. Although migration from Zimbabwe since 1990 has consistently increased over time, it can be periodized into three ‘waves’ with distinctive drivers of migration, migration patterns and migrant profiles. The first wave occurred in the 1990s, the second from around 2000 to 2005 and the third in the ...
Africa Development
In Zimbabwe, persistent political and economic problems have instigated and exacerbated food inse... more In Zimbabwe, persistent political and economic problems have instigated and exacerbated food insecurity over the past two decades. Low food production, combined with high levels of inflation, a stagnating economy and increasing food prices, have worsened the plight of consumers in the country. High levels of poverty in the rural areas continue to influence rural-urban migrations, but most migrants to the city generally face deprivation, especially in peri-urban areas such as Epworth, where most migrants prefer to settle owing to its semi-formal nature. How then, do the poor in these peri-urban areas feed themselves amidst high urban poverty levels? Using data collected from different surveys between 2008 and 2016, the article explores four major strategies adopted by households to cope with food insecurity: reliance on urban farming; dependence on rural remittances; utilisation by urban residents of employment opportunities in the surrounding farms; and participation in, as well as ...
Geographical Education Magazine, 2004
Within the context of demographic growth, rapid urbanization and rising urban poverty which chara... more Within the context of demographic growth, rapid urbanization and rising urban poverty which characterizes much of Sub-Saharan Africa in the 21 st Century, this thesis examines the urban poor's vulnerability to food insecurity and analyses the strategies that households adopt to enhance their resilience in this challenging environment. Harare is the study site, providing an acute example of a city (and country) 'in crisis', and a context in which formal food markets have failed to meet the needs of the urban poor, within a generalized collapse of the economy. The central question, then, is how do the urban poor meet their food needs under such conditions of extreme material deprivation? In addressing this question, the study usefully combines qualitative and quantitative research methods, consisting of in-depth household case studies and key-informant interviews, and a standardized survey questionnaire. The literature on food security and livelihoods has mainly focused on the rural sector, with limited attention being paid to those strategies that poor households use to feed themselves under conditions of adversity in the urban environment. This thesis therefore locates itself within the nascent urban livelihoods literature, and contributes to the emerging field of urban food security in the following important ways: First, the persistence and vitality of the informal sector underpins the household urban economy, thereby challenging orthodox development perspectives that consider this economy as 'saturated'. Second, urban-rural remittances no longer dominate the social economy, and the predominant flow of resources is now from rural to urban households in Harare. This is creating 'new' forms of linkages where food and even money transfers from the rural area have become key to the survival of households that are vulnerable to economic fluctuations in the urban environment. Third, urban households employ demographic coping strategies to reduce their food requirements by sending some members to the rural areas, despite the more limited availability of social and physical infrastructure outside the city. Fourth, international migration is an important new survival strategy for urban households that traditionally have not been known to have strong linkages with the outside world. These linkages facilitate the movement of goods, food and monetary remittances, which are increasingly becoming important safety valves for urban migrant households. Thus migration has become a key dimension of urban livelihoods, with household members moving both domestically and internationally. Fifth, in light of these findings, the study makes a methodological contribution by engaging in the discourse on redefining the concept of the household, particularly with relevance to food security. In contrast to the view of a monolithic co-resident household of shared tasks and decision-making theorized by earlier writers, the struggle for survival and livelihood in the city has split the urban household into separate, but mutually supportive units whose activities, composition and location remain highly fluid-it is this fluidity which enables the household to construct multi-spatial livelihoods that are key to survival of the urban poor. vi Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the generous scholarship availed to me by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Programme in Urban Food Security (PUFS) at the University of Cape Town. For this support, I am eternally grateful. I am indebted to the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences for providing me with a home for the duration of my study at the University of Cape Town. I owe a debt of gratitude to the many individuals who inspired me and contributed in making this thesis a reality. While it is difficult to mention all these people by name, I would like to assure those whose names I fail to mention here that their various contributions, in whatever form, are deeply appreciated. Any mistakes, omissions or errors in this work however remain my responsibility. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Dr. Bruce Frayne, for his enthusiasm, unparalleled expert advice, unwavering support and continuous guidance through all the stages of writing this thesis. I also extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Jane Battersby-Lennard, for her constructive criticism and useful suggestions that contributed immensely to shaping this thesis. I am deeply indebted to Professor Jonathan Crush, for his incisive comments, as well as the informative signposts that he expeditiously rendered. Professor Sue Parnell, your advice, suggestions and constant encouragement helped me to remain focused. I am humbled by the concern shown by all my supervisors and will forever remain grateful. I also extend my appreciation to all the members of staff in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences (EGS) at UCT who, either singly or collectively helped me in many different ways for the duration of my study. In particular I would like to thank Dr. Pippin Anderson, the postgraduate co-coordinator, for her constant encouragement and Sharon Adams as well as Shahieda Samsodien for their efficient handling of various administrative issues. To Ndeyapo Nickanor and Mutale Chileshe, our various discussions enlightened me more than I could ever acknowledge. In Zimbabwe, I would like to thank the following: Dr. Lazarus Zanamwe and staff of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Zimbabwe, for providing me with institutional support while I was conducting my fieldwork in the country; Mr Kizito Muhomba, the Executive Secretary of Epworth Local Board, for facilitating my smooth entry into the field and tolerating my numerous requests for information; Mr Psychology Chiwanga of the City of Harare for helping with information at 1 CHAPTER ONE URBAN GROWTH, POVERTY AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY 1.1 2003 (Government of Zimbabwe, 2006). By November 2008, up to 80 percent of the population was estimated to be surviving on less than US$2 per day (Chimhowu, 2009:1). 5 The last official statistics for hyperinflation in the country put the figure at 231 million percent in October 2008 (RBZ, 2008). Independent statistics however indicate that hyperinflation peaked at 500 billion percent in December 2008 (Chimhowu, 2009:1). 6 Since the beginning of the fast-track land reform programme in 2000, the country has experienced severe food shortages: maize deficits of 1.0 million tonnes for the 2006-07 season and 840 thousand tonnes for the 2008-09 season. Production estimates for the 2009-10 season indicate that over 680 thousand tonnes will be needed to meet the maize deficit (
This policy brief is informed by the findings of the ESRC/ DFID-funded Consuming Urban Poverty Pr... more This policy brief is informed by the findings of the ESRC/ DFID-funded Consuming Urban Poverty Project (CUP) (formally called "Governing Food Systems to Alleviate Poverty in Secondary Cities in Africa") on work carried out in low-income neighbourhoods of Kitwe, Zambia, from 2016 to 2017. The central focus of the study was to understand the connections between poverty, governance and urban space. This brief presents key findings related to infrastructure and makes policy recommendations that seek to enable multiple development-related benefits through alternative approaches to improved infrastructure.
Land
Due to the heterogeneity among households across locations, predicting the impacts of stay-at-hom... more Due to the heterogeneity among households across locations, predicting the impacts of stay-at-home mitigation and lockdown strategies for COVID-19 control is crucial. In this study, we quantitatively assessed the effects of the Namibia government’s lockdown control measures on food insecurity in urban informal settlements with a focus on Windhoek, Namibia. We developed three types of conditional regression models to predict food insecurity prevalence (FIP) scenarios incorporating household frequency of food purchase (FFP) as the impacting factor, based on the Hungry Cities Food Matrix. Empirical data were derived from the 2017 African Food Security Urban Network (AFSUN) Windhoek study and applied univariate probit and bivariate partial observability models to postulate the relation between food insecurity and FFP within the context of stay-at-home disease mitigation strategy. The findings showed that FFP was positively correlated with the prevalence of food insecurity (r = 0.057, 95...
Spaza shops are an essential component of the South African township economy as they provide vita... more Spaza shops are an essential component of the South African township economy as they provide vital goods, employment and an income to most township dwellers. Despite this, the sustainability of spaza shops has been problematic, with most closing down within the first few years of operation. Against this backdrop, this paper assessed the scope and operation of spaza shops in the Mankweng area to understand the problems that inhibit their viability. A quantitative approach that utilised structured and closedended questionnaire was adopted to collect data from 50 spaza shop owners. A GPS device provided the coordinates utilised to map the spatial distribution of the spaza shops in the area. Most of the spaza shops surveyed were foreign owned with thepreponderance of Ethiopians (34 per cent) and Somalians (34 per cent). South African spaza shop owners constituted only 26 per cent of the sample. The study notes that although spaza shops generate income for their owners and are integral t...
Geographical Education Magazine, 2003
Springer eBooks, Nov 3, 2022
AFRICAN HUMAN MOBILITY REVIEW, 2017
Zimbabwe has witnessed a rapid expansion of informal cross border trading (ICBT) with neighbourin... more Zimbabwe has witnessed a rapid expansion of informal cross border trading (ICBT) with neighbouring countries over the past two and a half decades. That expansion has largely been due to a persistent decline in the economy since the introduction of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) in the 1990s, which led to the closure of many industries, increased unemployment and forced many people into the informal sector. This 2014 study sought to provide a current picture of ICBT in Zimbabwe by interviewing 514 informal entrepreneurs involved in ICBT between Harare (Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg (South Africa). The sample profile revealed that ICBT in Zimbabwe is dominated by females and young adults and that traders are fairly educated. The study results demonstrate the important role played by ICBT in the survival of households in the country.
AFRICAN HUMAN MOBILITY REVIEW, 2017
This paper is a contribution to our understanding of the intertwined economic and political crise... more This paper is a contribution to our understanding of the intertwined economic and political crises in Zimbabwe and the crisis of xenophobia in South Africa. There have been few studies to date specifically examining the impact of xenophobic violence on Zimbabweans trying to make a living in the South African informal economy. The paper first provides a picture of Zimbabwean migrant entrepreneurship using survey data from a 2015 study of migrants in the informal economy. All of the Zimbabwean entrepreneurs interviewed in depth for the study in 2016 had either witnessed or been the victims of xenophobic violence or both. The interviews focused on the experience and impact of xenophobic violence on personal safety and business operations. The migrant accounts clearly demonstrate that they see xenophobia as a key driver of the hostility, looting and violence that they experience. The paper argues that the deep-rooted crisis in Zimbabwe, which has driven many to South Africa in the first...
African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, 2018
Urban Forum, 2014
In 2008, Zimbabwe was in crisis, with an economy in ruins and a volatile political environment. T... more In 2008, Zimbabwe was in crisis, with an economy in ruins and a volatile political environment. The country's GDP had contracted by over 40 % since 2,000 level; the official unemployment rate was over 80 %; hyperinflation was running at over 200 million percent; and food production deficits of the staple crop, maize, hovered around 1,000,000 tons. Within this hyperinflationary environment, food shortages were acute, and over 80 % of households in the country survived on less than US$2 per day. While this deleterious environment affected the whole country, the vulnerability of the urban poor to the economic meltdown and food insecurity was especially severe given their heavy reliance on food purchases and increases in other urban expenses such as rent, electricity, and transport. This paper assesses the vulnerability of poor households to food insecurity in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, under the crisis conditions and beyond. It argues that while the ushering in of the Government of National Unity in 2009 stabilized the political and economic situation by bringing down inflation, introducing a multi-currency regime, and improving the food supply, the general livelihoods of the poor did not drastically improve. The food security challenges facing poor urban households in Harare did not immediately improve for reasons that are discussed in the paper. The analysis is based on a comparison of data from two household surveys conducted in Harare, the first at the height of the crisis in 2008 and the second in 2012.
Urban transformations, Jan 19, 2023
South Africa's major cities are periodically wracked by large-scale xenophobic violence directed ... more South Africa's major cities are periodically wracked by large-scale xenophobic violence directed at migrants and refugees from other countries. Informal sector businesses and their migrant owners and employees are particularly vulnerable targets during these attacks. Migrant-owned businesses are also targeted on a regular basis in smaller-scale looting and destruction of property. There is now a large literature on the characteristics and causes of xenophobic violence and attitudes in South Africa, most of it based on quantitative and qualitative research in the country's major metropolitan areas. One of the consequences of big-city xenophobia has been a search for alternative markets and safer spaces by migrants, including relocating to the country's many smaller urban centres. The question addressed in this paper is whether they are welcomed in these cities and towns or subject to the same kinds of victimization as in large cities. This paper is the first to systematically examine this question by focusing on a group of towns in Limpopo Province and the experiences of migrants in the informal sector there. Through survey evidence and in-depth interviews and focus groups with migrant and South African vendors, the paper demonstrates that xenophobia is also pervasive in these smaller centres, in ways that both echo and differ from that in the large cities. The findings in this paper have broader significance for other countries attempting to deal with the rise of xenophobia.
Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) is a significant feature of regional trade and international m... more Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) is a significant feature of regional trade and international mobility in Southern Africa. The exact number of participants and economic importance of this trade is unknown because no official statistics are collected. Despite its obvious presence at every border post throughout the SADC region, ICBT remains largely invisible to policy-makers. Indeed, in government circles it is more often associated with smuggling, tax evasion and illegality than with innovation, enterprise and job creation. On the research side, there is a growing body of case study evidence that ICBT plays a critical role in poverty alleviation, food security and household livelihoods in Southern Africa. But its overall character and significance is unknown. With this in mind, SAMP initiated a project to examine cross-border regional trade at a selection of important border posts throughout the region. This research led to a number of country reports that provided rich insights i...
Migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa has been extremely well-documented by researchers. In thi... more Migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa has been extremely well-documented by researchers. In this paper, we suggest that there is a need to periodize these migration flows in order to understand how and why they have changed over time, not simply in terms of the volume of migration but the changing drivers of migration and the shifting nature of the migrant stream. Few previous studies have taken a longitudinal approach to Zimbabwean migration, primarily because most research takes place at one point in time. SAMP is in the fortunate position of having a large database at its disposal which allows us to compare migration from Zimbabwe at three different points in time: 1997, 2005 and 2010. Although migration from Zimbabwe since 1990 has consistently increased over time, it can be periodized into three ‘waves’ with distinctive drivers of migration, migration patterns and migrant profiles. The first wave occurred in the 1990s, the second from around 2000 to 2005 and the third in the ...
Africa Development
In Zimbabwe, persistent political and economic problems have instigated and exacerbated food inse... more In Zimbabwe, persistent political and economic problems have instigated and exacerbated food insecurity over the past two decades. Low food production, combined with high levels of inflation, a stagnating economy and increasing food prices, have worsened the plight of consumers in the country. High levels of poverty in the rural areas continue to influence rural-urban migrations, but most migrants to the city generally face deprivation, especially in peri-urban areas such as Epworth, where most migrants prefer to settle owing to its semi-formal nature. How then, do the poor in these peri-urban areas feed themselves amidst high urban poverty levels? Using data collected from different surveys between 2008 and 2016, the article explores four major strategies adopted by households to cope with food insecurity: reliance on urban farming; dependence on rural remittances; utilisation by urban residents of employment opportunities in the surrounding farms; and participation in, as well as ...