Product of Immigration-  Zimbabwe, a rainbow nation in her own right

Calvin Manika

The term rainbow nation has become synonymous with South Africa as an appreciation of its multicultural society. However, Zimbabwe’s own cosmopolitan status due to immigration has often gone under the radar.

For people who have been to Malawi and Zambia, the  dusty streets of Hwange are a replica of  Lilongwe, Blantyre in Malawi or Livingstone and Lusaka in terms of language and culture. 

A labour induced migration of thousands of people from these two countries that lie north of Zimbabwe has for the past five decades afforded locals a fair appreciation of foreign cultures, tastes and values.

The cross pollination of cultures has seen Zimbabweans in the mining town  adopting Malawian and Zambian cultures and vice versa. 

These values have been passed on to younger generations for decades.

Phillip Mwembe, (77) born in Chobe, Zambia is a Zimbabwean. Having migrated to Zimbabwe at the age of 15 years in search of employment he got married and acquired properties in Hwange. 

Federation and amalgamation

During the colonial era in 1956, the British-led government in Southern Africa formed a federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which combined Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi). Zimbabwe was selected as the administrative capital. The federation lasted 10 years and created opportunities among the three countries as they operated as a unit.

“Migration became easier; it was a matter of travelling to any destination of one’s choice within the federation. I found myself falling for Hwange because there were so many job opportunities at the coal mine (then Wankie Colliery and now Hwange Colliery Company). I started working here around 1960. When they saw  the rewards of my sojourn, my brothers took the same path to settle in this country,” said Mwembe.

Without too many restrictions, Zimbabwe continues to accommodate foreigners and has become home to all.

Mwembe added; “Unlike in other countries, police in this country don’t randomly stop people to check their identity. Everyone is free to go about their business as long as they don’t violate the laws of the land.”

Zimbabwean immigration laws

On 1 June 1979 Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia, signed into law the Immigration Act [Chapter 4:02]. The Act regulates movement of persons into and out of  Zimbabwe; prohibits entry into the country and provides for the removal from Zimbabwe of certain persons and provides for the control of aliens.

 “No person shall, for the purposes of this Act, have a domicile in Zimbabwe unless he has lawfully ordinarily resided therein for a continuous period of ten years, which period shall not include (a) any period during which a person has (i) been detained in any prison, reformatory or mental hospital in or outside Zimbabwe; or (ii) resided in Zimbabwe in terms of any permit other than a residence permit;” reads the Act.

Thousands of foreigners from Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique have found a home in Zimbabwe.

“This is my home. I have a family, a Zimbabwean national identity card, a passport and I enjoy all government benefits as a pensioner. I usually visit my siblings in Malawi,” says Arlington Mwale, a Zimbabwean pensioner of Malawian descent.

In Hwange and other surrounding areas Chewa/Nyanja-A Malawian-Zambian language is the most spoken language, dwarfing Nambya, Ndebele, Tonga and Shona languages which are also spoken in Hwange. In 2013, Zimbabwe adopted  Chewa as one of the official 16 languages despites its foreign origin.

Registration and incorporation

The Registrar General’s Office  registers migrants as citizens according to the Immigration Act the Births and Deaths Act. The gesture is usually extended to migrants towards elections.

In 2017, “aliens” over the age of 18 who had proof of permanent residence and birth in Zimbabwe and had at least one parent who was also born in the country or in one of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries, were permitted to register with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

 Even though there is no official record from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTATS), the government believes the number of “aliens” to be in the region of 6 000 people.

Over the years, immigrants from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and beyond have brought skills to Zimbabwe especially in the manufacturing, mining and construction sectors.

“Sharing of knowledge and skills is important among Africans especially in our SADC region. In Arab states there is more development because of unity and solidarity.

 Another good example is Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which boasts of numerous developmental projects through free movement and trade. Unfortunately, this is not the case in our SADC,” said Fanuel Muchabaiwa, an economist and development expert.

Why Xenophobia?

 South Africa (RSA) is known for its citizens and vigilante groups like Dudula for publicly denouncing foreign nationals especially Zimbabweans and Mozambicans. Consequently, citizens from these countries have been attacked, killed, maimed and humiliated.

Early this year a Zimbabwean man, Elvis Nyathi was burnt to death by a mob after failing to produce immigration papers.  Also, Zimbabwean immigrants with Zimbabwe Special Permits face an uncertain future after the South African government announced the permits’ expiry dates. The matter is before the courts.

Unskilled Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa are not paid fairly despite working many hours of hard labour everyday.

“I became a slave in Limpopo, South Africa because I had no right to bargain for  fair salary. The farm owner would give us a meagre salary and if we dared to ask for more, he would threaten to call the police on us. We kept quiet until we were forced back home,” says Denzel Moyo, a Hwange resident.

Moyo cannot understand why other countries cannot adopt a softer stance on immigration.

“In Zimbabwe, I have never seen the police or army ask foreign nationals for papers. There are no random stops and searches here unless one is a fugitive or suspect. It’s rare. People just live together in harmony regardless of nationality. 

No Borders, no immigration papers

In support of a borderless economy in Africa and SADC, the World Group Bank says African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides a unique opportunity for countries in the region to competitively integrate into the global economy, reduce poverty, and promote inclusion.

Although Africa has made substantial progress in raising living standards and reducing poverty, ease of trade can provide the impetus for reforms that boost productivity and job creation, and thereby further reduce poverty.

“AfCFTA would significantly boost African trade, particularly intraregional trade in manufacturing.By 2035, the volume of total exports would increase by almost 29 percent relative to business as usual. Intercontinental exports would increase by more than 81 percent, while exports to non-African countries would rise by 19 percent. It would create new opportunities for African manufacturers and workers,” says World Group Bank.