BEITBRIDGE tops the list of the border areas of people who are migrating to other countries with South Africa emerging as a destination of choice to many.
This is revealed in the latest International Organisation of Migration (IOM) Zimbabwe — Flow Monitoring Report.
The report states that during the reporting period under review, a total of 58 276 movements were recorded and 2 103 migrants were interviewed across 20 Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs) in Zimbabwe.
The report said total movements recorded in March increased by 6% compared to the previous month.
“The top three sending districts were Beitbridge (55%), Harare (11%) and Chiredzi (8%), while the top three receiving districts were Harare (28%), Beitbridge (15%) and Bulawayo (10%),” reads the report.
“Matabeleland South province recorded the highest number of outflows (57%) while Harare province recorded the highest number of inflows (28%).
“The South Africa-Zimbabwe corridor recorded the highest movement of 52 976 (91%) followed by the Zambia-Zimbabwe corridor which recorded 5 300 (9%) movements.”
IOM noted that 56% of movements along the South Africa-Zimbabwe corridor were short-term movements, 21% were family reunification movements whilst 19% were long-term economic movements.
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“Migrants travelling from Matabeleland South highlighted Limpopo (72%) and Gauteng, South Africa (26%) as their intended destination,” the report said.
“Of the incoming migrants travelling to Harare, 73% were travelling from Gauteng whilst 27% were travelling from Gauteng province in South Africa.”
Zimbabwe’s economic and political instability has been cited as the major reason why many citizens are leaving the country.
Also indications have been that some locals travel to countries such as South Africa, Botswana and Zambia to order goods for resale back home.
The report states that 94% of migrants indicated that South Africa was their final intended destination.
“Forty-six percent of migrants travelling to South Africa were aged 26-35,” the report said.
“Of the migrants travelling to South Africa, 28% were returning to their places of employment, 24% were looking for livelihood opportunities while 17% were looking for jobs.”
The report said 47% of the outgoing migrants indicated that their movements were short-term local, 43% were long-term economic movements and 5% were seasonal movements.
“Twenty six percent of the migrants travelling to South Africa were planning to stay for a period of between six months and 12 months while 20% were planning to stay for a period between two weeks and three months.”
The report states that migrants travelling to South Africa were more likely to have travel documents and other identification documents.
“Of the migrants interviewed, 71% had some form of identification document with them,” the report said.
“However, 29% reported not having any identification documents on hand.
“An analysis of the data revealed that female migrants were more likely to possess documentation (36%).
“On the other hand, male migrants were more likely to travel without identification documents, with 16% of migrants reporting not having any form of identification.”
IOM noted that 264 migrants stated that they held visas for their intended destination country, of which the majority held visas for South Africa (256).
Of those who had visas for South Africa, 93% had visitor visas, 5% stated they had work permits and 2% had study visas.
“From the survey, Gauteng province was the intended destination for most of the visa holders (79%),” the report said.
“This included 77% of visitor visa holders, 16% of study visas and 6% work visas.
“Of the migrants who stated they had visitor visas and were travelling from Zimbabwe to South Africa, 21% were travelling from Bulawayo, 14% from Gwanda and 12% from Tsholotsho,” reads the report.
It added: “Their main reasons for travelling were to Look for livelihood opportunities (64%), family reunification (17%0 and to conduct commercial activities (14%).
“Of the migrants who indicated they held work visas for South Africa, most were employed in wholesale and retail, transportation and storage, agriculture and engineering.”
