Pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at Plumtree border post in Zimbabwe
Background: Migration is a common and visible feature of global mobility where the driving factors would be the search for better livelihood opportunities. Due to economic hardships in Zimbabwe, women have also been noted to migrate to neighbouring countries in search of opportunities to look after...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Migration and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623522000149 |
| _version_ | 1828345452030853120 |
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| author | Tsitsi Matose Gracsious Maviza Wilfred Njabulo Nunu |
| author_facet | Tsitsi Matose Gracsious Maviza Wilfred Njabulo Nunu |
| author_sort | Tsitsi Matose |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Migration is a common and visible feature of global mobility where the driving factors would be the search for better livelihood opportunities. Due to economic hardships in Zimbabwe, women have also been noted to migrate to neighbouring countries in search of opportunities to look after their left-behind families. However, the COVID-19 restrictions and other state regulations have become facilitators of illicit migration as irregular migrants (including women) devise more complex means to traverse borders and gain access. This paper assesses the vulnerabilities and the lived realities of female irregular migrants between Zimbabwe and Botswana during the clandestine migration journeys. Methods: A qualitative descriptive survey that targeted nineteen (19) participants was conducted using semi-structured and unstructured interviews. The participants included fifteen (15) Female irregular migrants and four (4) Key Informants who worked at Plumtree Border Post. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and thematically analysed. Results: Four vulnerabilities were reported/experienced by the participants: violence and robbery, Rape and sexual harassment, Psycho-emotional harassment, and health vulnerabilities in detention. The participants reported that these vulnerabilities are experienced at different levels of the migration process and deportation. Conclusions: Female migrants are generally at risk as they are bound to be taken advantage of at different levels during migration and deportation. Therefore, there is a need to relook at the policies implemented at the ports and ensure women are subjected to humane treatment even during the deportation process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:11:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a81f44515b4407e87d7217c118f7901 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-6235 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:11:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Migration and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a81f44515b4407e87d7217c118f79012022-12-22T02:23:19ZengElsevierJournal of Migration and Health2666-62352022-01-015100091Pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at Plumtree border post in ZimbabweTsitsi Matose0Gracsious Maviza1Wilfred Njabulo Nunu2Institute of Development Studies Faculty of Commerce, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, ZimbabweInstitute of Development Studies Faculty of Commerce, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, ZimbabweDepartment of Environmental Science and Health, Faculty of Applied Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Scientific Agriculture and Environment Development Institute, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Corresponding author at: Department of Environmental Science and Health, Faculty of Applied Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Corner Gwanda Road and Cecil Avenue, P O Box AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.Background: Migration is a common and visible feature of global mobility where the driving factors would be the search for better livelihood opportunities. Due to economic hardships in Zimbabwe, women have also been noted to migrate to neighbouring countries in search of opportunities to look after their left-behind families. However, the COVID-19 restrictions and other state regulations have become facilitators of illicit migration as irregular migrants (including women) devise more complex means to traverse borders and gain access. This paper assesses the vulnerabilities and the lived realities of female irregular migrants between Zimbabwe and Botswana during the clandestine migration journeys. Methods: A qualitative descriptive survey that targeted nineteen (19) participants was conducted using semi-structured and unstructured interviews. The participants included fifteen (15) Female irregular migrants and four (4) Key Informants who worked at Plumtree Border Post. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and thematically analysed. Results: Four vulnerabilities were reported/experienced by the participants: violence and robbery, Rape and sexual harassment, Psycho-emotional harassment, and health vulnerabilities in detention. The participants reported that these vulnerabilities are experienced at different levels of the migration process and deportation. Conclusions: Female migrants are generally at risk as they are bound to be taken advantage of at different levels during migration and deportation. Therefore, there is a need to relook at the policies implemented at the ports and ensure women are subjected to humane treatment even during the deportation process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623522000149AbuseFemale irregular migrantsMigrationVulnerabilitiesPlumtreeZimbabwe |
| spellingShingle | Tsitsi Matose Gracsious Maviza Wilfred Njabulo Nunu Pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at Plumtree border post in Zimbabwe Journal of Migration and Health Abuse Female irregular migrants Migration Vulnerabilities Plumtree Zimbabwe |
| title | Pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at Plumtree border post in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at Plumtree border post in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at Plumtree border post in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at Plumtree border post in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at Plumtree border post in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | pervasive irregular migration and the vulnerabilities of irregular female migrants at plumtree border post in zimbabwe |
| topic | Abuse Female irregular migrants Migration Vulnerabilities Plumtree Zimbabwe |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623522000149 |
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