The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa
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 Sou...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of the Western Cape
2021-05-01
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| Series: | African Human Mobility Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/831 |
| _version_ | 1818468519282475008 |
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| author | Jonathan Crush Godfrey Tawodzera Abel Chikanda Daniel Tevera |
| author_facet | Jonathan Crush Godfrey Tawodzera Abel Chikanda Daniel Tevera |
| author_sort | Jonathan Crush |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
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 place, makes return home in the face of xenophobia a non-viable option.
Zimbabweans are forced to adopt a number of self-protection strategies, none of
which ultimately provide insurance against future attack.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:13:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85e8f9052df1477c8bb590eab0e22218 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-6955 2410-7972 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:13:24Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Human Mobility Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-85e8f9052df1477c8bb590eab0e222182022-12-22T02:29:46ZengUniversity of the Western CapeAfrican Human Mobility Review2411-69552410-79722021-05-013210.14426/ahmr.v3i2.831The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South AfricaJonathan Crush0Godfrey Tawodzera1Abel Chikanda2Daniel Tevera3Balsillie School of International AffairsUniversity of LimpopoUniversity of KansasUniversity of the Western Cape 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 place, makes return home in the face of xenophobia a non-viable option. Zimbabweans are forced to adopt a number of self-protection strategies, none of which ultimately provide insurance against future attack. https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/831ViolenceXenophobicSouth AfricaZimbabwean informal enterpriseEntrepreneurship |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Crush Godfrey Tawodzera Abel Chikanda Daniel Tevera The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa African Human Mobility Review Violence Xenophobic South Africa Zimbabwean informal enterprise Entrepreneurship |
| title | The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa |
| title_full | The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa |
| title_short | The Owners of Xenophobia: Zimbabwean Informal Enterprise and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa |
| title_sort | owners of xenophobia zimbabwean informal enterprise and xenophobic violence in south africa |
| topic | Violence Xenophobic South Africa Zimbabwean informal enterprise Entrepreneurship |
| url | https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/831 |
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