Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media Perspective
This study examines the evolving connection between migrant networking on social media and cross-border food remittances in Southern Africa. Emerging research and academic debates have shown that social media platforms transform migration networks. But the role and link between migrant remittances...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of the Western Cape
2023-04-01
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| Series: | African Human Mobility Review |
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| Online Access: | https://www.epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/1124 |
| _version_ | 1797832626965315584 |
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| author | Sean Sithole |
| author_facet | Sean Sithole |
| author_sort | Sean Sithole |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This study examines the evolving connection between migrant networking on social media and cross-border food remittances in Southern Africa. Emerging research and academic debates have shown that social media platforms transform migration networks. But the role and link between migrant remittances and social media are generally overlooked and neglected. This paper contributes to the ongoing debates by examining the role of social media as a valuable networking tool for food-remitting
Zimbabwean migrants. The research is founded on a mixed-methods approach, thus utilizing both questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews of Zimbabwean migrants in Cape Town, South Africa. The research findings uncover the role of social media in facilitating a regular flow of food remittances back to urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe. A related result is how social media enabled information pathways associated with cross-border food remitting when the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions limited face-to-face contact. This research can provide valuable insights for academics, researchers, and development practitioners interested in the evolving migration, remittances, and food security nexus in the global South.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:10:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-525156d6a64f414b9e99730b2dea8924 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-6955 2410-7972 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:10:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Human Mobility Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-525156d6a64f414b9e99730b2dea89242023-05-06T13:52:54ZengUniversity of the Western CapeAfrican Human Mobility Review2411-69552410-79722023-04-019110.14426/ahmr.v9i1.1124Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media PerspectiveSean Sithole0Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Social Development, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of the Western, South Africa Cape This study examines the evolving connection between migrant networking on social media and cross-border food remittances in Southern Africa. Emerging research and academic debates have shown that social media platforms transform migration networks. But the role and link between migrant remittances and social media are generally overlooked and neglected. This paper contributes to the ongoing debates by examining the role of social media as a valuable networking tool for food-remitting Zimbabwean migrants. The research is founded on a mixed-methods approach, thus utilizing both questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews of Zimbabwean migrants in Cape Town, South Africa. The research findings uncover the role of social media in facilitating a regular flow of food remittances back to urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe. A related result is how social media enabled information pathways associated with cross-border food remitting when the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions limited face-to-face contact. This research can provide valuable insights for academics, researchers, and development practitioners interested in the evolving migration, remittances, and food security nexus in the global South. https://www.epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/1124Food remittances, food security, social media, migrant networks, Zimbabwean migrants |
| spellingShingle | Sean Sithole Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media Perspective African Human Mobility Review Food remittances, food security, social media, migrant networks, Zimbabwean migrants |
| title | Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media Perspective |
| title_full | Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media Perspective |
| title_short | Migrant Networks, Food Remittances and Zimbabweans in Cape Town: A Social Media Perspective |
| title_sort | migrant networks food remittances and zimbabweans in cape town a social media perspective |
| topic | Food remittances, food security, social media, migrant networks, Zimbabwean migrants |
| url | https://www.epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/1124 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seansithole migrantnetworksfoodremittancesandzimbabweansincapetownasocialmediaperspective |