6 - Irregular Migration and Vulnerability to HIV&AIDS: Some Observations from Zimbabwe
Corresponding Author(s) : France Maphosa
Africa Development,
Vol. 37 No. 2 (2012): Africa Development
Abstract
Mobile populations are at very high risk of HIV infection. At the same time, they can be catalysts in its spread. Migration from Matabeleland region in Zimbabwe to South Africa has several features that increase this dual disposition of those involved. These features include the largely irregular nature of migration, its circulatory nature, increasing feminisation as well as the working and living conditions of the migrants in the host country. Irregular migration exposes migrants to various forms of abuse by thugs, those who purport to assist them on the way and law enforcement agents. At the country of destination, undocumented migrants are often employed in precarious forms of jobs which expose them to abuse by employers and other workers. Female irregular migrants are particularly at risk both on transit and at destination. Although they often spend extended periods of time away from home, migrants occasionally return to their spouses or partners at home. This increases the risk of infection for spouses and partners who are often unable to negotiate for safe sex. Using observations from studies conducted in Ward Seven of Matabeleland Province in Zimbabwe, this article discusses some of the factors that expose migrants, particularly irregular migrants, to HIV infection as well making them catalysts in its spread.
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- Adepoju, A., 2004, ‘Changing Configurations of Migration in Africa’, Washington, D.C.: Migration Policy Institute.
- Amanor-Wilks, D. and Moyo, S., 1996, ‘Labour Migration to South Africa during the 1990s’, Harare: ILO/SAMAT.
- Ateka, G.K., 2001, ‘Factors in HIV/AIDS Transmission in sub-Saharan Africa’, Bulletin of the World Health Organisation 79(12).
- Beck-Gernsheim, E., 2007, ‘Transnational Lives, Transnational Marriages: A Review of the Evidence from Migrant Countries in Europe’ Global Networks 7(3), pp. 271-288.
- Bronfman, M.N., Leyva, R, Negroni, M. J. and Rueda, C.M., 2002, ‘Mobile Populations and HIV/AIDS in Central America and Mexico: Research for action’, AIDS 16 (3), pp. 42-49.
- Brummer, D., 2002, Labour Migration and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa, Pretoria: International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
- Chammartin, G.M.F., 2008, ‘Female Migrants Workers’ Situation in the Labour Market’, paper presented at the Thematic Review Seminar of the European Employment Strategy, 29 April.
- Crush, J., 2000, ‘Migration Past: An Historical Overview of Cross Border Movement in Southern Africa’, in McDonald, D.A., ed., On Borders: Perspectives on International Migration in Southern Africa. Ontario: SAMP.
- Diaz, R.M. and Ayala, G., 1999, ‘Love, Passion and Rebellion: Ideologies of HIV Risk among Latino Gay Men in the USA’ Culture, Health and Sexuality 1(3), pp. 277-293.
- Dobson, B., 2000, ‘Women on the Move: Gender and Cross-Border Migration to South Africa from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe’, in McDonald, D. A., ed., On Borders: Perspectives on International Migration in Southern Africa. Ontario: Southern African Migration Project.
- Doctors without Borders, 2009, ‘No Refugees, Access Denied: Medical and Humanitarian Needs of Zimbabweans in South Africa’ Cape Town/ Johannesburg: Doctors without Borders
- Hess, R.F. and McKinney, D., 2007, ‘Fatalism and HIV/AIDS Beliefs in Rural Mali, West Africa’, Journal of Nursing Scholarship 39 (2),pp. 113-118. (http://www.zimbabwetoday.co.uk/)
- Hussein, S., 1996, ‘Strategic Perspectives on Illegal Immigration into South Africa 1’ Africa Security Review 5(4).
- International Labour Organisation (ILO), 2002, ‘Every Child Counts: New Global Estimates on Child Labour’, Geneva: ILO.
- International Labour Organisation (ILO), 1999, ‘Migrants Workers International Conference, 87th Session, Report III (Part B), Geneva: ILO.
- ILO/SAMAT, 1998, ‘Labour migration to South Africa in 1990s’. Harare: ILO/SAMAT Policy Paper.
- International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 2003, ‘Seduction, Sale, Slavery: Trafficking in Women and Children for Sexual Exploitation in Southern Africa’ Pretoria: IOM.
- International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 2010, ‘Migration and Health in South Africa: A Review of the Current Situation and Recommendations for Achieving the World Health Assembly Resolution on the Health of Migrants’, Pretoria: IOM.
- Jolly, S. and Reeves, H., 2005, ‘Gender and Migration: An Overview’, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.
- Jahic, G. and Finckenauer, 2005, ‘Representation and Misrepresentation of Human Trafficking’, Trends in Organised Crime 8 (3).
- Kanyenze, G., 2004, ‘African Migrant Labour Situation in Southern Africa’ Paper presented at the ICFTU-Afro Conference on Migrant Labour, Nairobi, 15-17 March.
- Kullgren, J.T., 2003, ‘Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants’Access to Health Services: The Public Health Implications of Welfare Reform’, American Journal of Public Health, 93 (10): 1630-1633.
- Lubkemann, S.C., 2002, ‘The Transformation of Transnationality among Mozambican Migrants in South Africa’, in Crush, J. and McDonald, D. A., eds, Transnationalism and New African Immigration to South Africa. Cape Town:/Toronto: Southern African Migration Project (SAMP) and Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS).
- Maphosa, F., 2004, ‘The Impact of Remittances from Zimbabweans Working in South Africa on Rural Livelihoods in the Southern Districts of Zimbabwe’, Research report submitted to the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA)
- Mwanje, J.I., 2001, Issues in Social Science Research, Addis Ababa: OSSREA.
- Ndiaye, N., 2004, ‘Women and HIV/AIDS’, Statement on the International Women’s Day: New York.
- Paton, B., 1995, Labour Export Policy in the Development of Southern Africa, Harare: University of Zimbabwe Publications.
- Ryklief, S., 2003, ‘Migrant Workers in South Africa: A Brief Overview’, Paper presented at the SASK Solidarity Seminar on Migrant Workers, 5-6
- Stalker, P, 1994, The Work of Strangers, Geneva: ILO
- Thiam, M., Perry, R. and Piche, V., 2004, ‘Migration and HIV in Northern Senegal’, Washington: Population Reference Bureau
- Tyldum, G and Brunovskis, A., 2005, ‘Describing the Unobserved: Methodological Challenges in Empirical Studies in Human Trafficking’ International Migration 43(1/2), pp. 17-34.
- UNAIDS, 2002, ‘AIDS and the Mobile Populations’ Report on the Global HVI/AIDS Epidemic, 2002.
- Vearey, J., Ritcher, M., Nunez, L. and Moyo, K., 2011, ‘South African HIV/AIDS programming Overlooks Migration, Urban Livelihoods and Informal Workplaces’, African Journal of AIDS 10, pp. 381-391.
- van Onselen, C., 1976, Chibaro: African Mine Labour in Southern Rhodesia, 1900-133. London: Pluto Press.
- Zinyama, L., 2000, ‘Who, What, When and Why: Cross-Border Movement from Zimbabwe to South Africa’, iin McDonald, D. A., ed., On Borders: Perspectives on International Migration in Southern Africa. Ontario: Southern African Migration Project. Available at: glish/dialogue/atrav/publ/129/8.pdf.
References
Adepoju, A., 2004, ‘Changing Configurations of Migration in Africa’, Washington, D.C.: Migration Policy Institute.
Amanor-Wilks, D. and Moyo, S., 1996, ‘Labour Migration to South Africa during the 1990s’, Harare: ILO/SAMAT.
Ateka, G.K., 2001, ‘Factors in HIV/AIDS Transmission in sub-Saharan Africa’, Bulletin of the World Health Organisation 79(12).
Beck-Gernsheim, E., 2007, ‘Transnational Lives, Transnational Marriages: A Review of the Evidence from Migrant Countries in Europe’ Global Networks 7(3), pp. 271-288.
Bronfman, M.N., Leyva, R, Negroni, M. J. and Rueda, C.M., 2002, ‘Mobile Populations and HIV/AIDS in Central America and Mexico: Research for action’, AIDS 16 (3), pp. 42-49.
Brummer, D., 2002, Labour Migration and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa, Pretoria: International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Chammartin, G.M.F., 2008, ‘Female Migrants Workers’ Situation in the Labour Market’, paper presented at the Thematic Review Seminar of the European Employment Strategy, 29 April.
Crush, J., 2000, ‘Migration Past: An Historical Overview of Cross Border Movement in Southern Africa’, in McDonald, D.A., ed., On Borders: Perspectives on International Migration in Southern Africa. Ontario: SAMP.
Diaz, R.M. and Ayala, G., 1999, ‘Love, Passion and Rebellion: Ideologies of HIV Risk among Latino Gay Men in the USA’ Culture, Health and Sexuality 1(3), pp. 277-293.
Dobson, B., 2000, ‘Women on the Move: Gender and Cross-Border Migration to South Africa from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe’, in McDonald, D. A., ed., On Borders: Perspectives on International Migration in Southern Africa. Ontario: Southern African Migration Project.
Doctors without Borders, 2009, ‘No Refugees, Access Denied: Medical and Humanitarian Needs of Zimbabweans in South Africa’ Cape Town/ Johannesburg: Doctors without Borders
Hess, R.F. and McKinney, D., 2007, ‘Fatalism and HIV/AIDS Beliefs in Rural Mali, West Africa’, Journal of Nursing Scholarship 39 (2),pp. 113-118. (http://www.zimbabwetoday.co.uk/)
Hussein, S., 1996, ‘Strategic Perspectives on Illegal Immigration into South Africa 1’ Africa Security Review 5(4).
International Labour Organisation (ILO), 2002, ‘Every Child Counts: New Global Estimates on Child Labour’, Geneva: ILO.
International Labour Organisation (ILO), 1999, ‘Migrants Workers International Conference, 87th Session, Report III (Part B), Geneva: ILO.
ILO/SAMAT, 1998, ‘Labour migration to South Africa in 1990s’. Harare: ILO/SAMAT Policy Paper.
International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 2003, ‘Seduction, Sale, Slavery: Trafficking in Women and Children for Sexual Exploitation in Southern Africa’ Pretoria: IOM.
International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 2010, ‘Migration and Health in South Africa: A Review of the Current Situation and Recommendations for Achieving the World Health Assembly Resolution on the Health of Migrants’, Pretoria: IOM.
Jolly, S. and Reeves, H., 2005, ‘Gender and Migration: An Overview’, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.
Jahic, G. and Finckenauer, 2005, ‘Representation and Misrepresentation of Human Trafficking’, Trends in Organised Crime 8 (3).
Kanyenze, G., 2004, ‘African Migrant Labour Situation in Southern Africa’ Paper presented at the ICFTU-Afro Conference on Migrant Labour, Nairobi, 15-17 March.
Kullgren, J.T., 2003, ‘Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants’Access to Health Services: The Public Health Implications of Welfare Reform’, American Journal of Public Health, 93 (10): 1630-1633.
Lubkemann, S.C., 2002, ‘The Transformation of Transnationality among Mozambican Migrants in South Africa’, in Crush, J. and McDonald, D. A., eds, Transnationalism and New African Immigration to South Africa. Cape Town:/Toronto: Southern African Migration Project (SAMP) and Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS).
Maphosa, F., 2004, ‘The Impact of Remittances from Zimbabweans Working in South Africa on Rural Livelihoods in the Southern Districts of Zimbabwe’, Research report submitted to the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA)
Mwanje, J.I., 2001, Issues in Social Science Research, Addis Ababa: OSSREA.
Ndiaye, N., 2004, ‘Women and HIV/AIDS’, Statement on the International Women’s Day: New York.
Paton, B., 1995, Labour Export Policy in the Development of Southern Africa, Harare: University of Zimbabwe Publications.
Ryklief, S., 2003, ‘Migrant Workers in South Africa: A Brief Overview’, Paper presented at the SASK Solidarity Seminar on Migrant Workers, 5-6
Stalker, P, 1994, The Work of Strangers, Geneva: ILO
Thiam, M., Perry, R. and Piche, V., 2004, ‘Migration and HIV in Northern Senegal’, Washington: Population Reference Bureau
Tyldum, G and Brunovskis, A., 2005, ‘Describing the Unobserved: Methodological Challenges in Empirical Studies in Human Trafficking’ International Migration 43(1/2), pp. 17-34.
UNAIDS, 2002, ‘AIDS and the Mobile Populations’ Report on the Global HVI/AIDS Epidemic, 2002.
Vearey, J., Ritcher, M., Nunez, L. and Moyo, K., 2011, ‘South African HIV/AIDS programming Overlooks Migration, Urban Livelihoods and Informal Workplaces’, African Journal of AIDS 10, pp. 381-391.
van Onselen, C., 1976, Chibaro: African Mine Labour in Southern Rhodesia, 1900-133. London: Pluto Press.
Zinyama, L., 2000, ‘Who, What, When and Why: Cross-Border Movement from Zimbabwe to South Africa’, iin McDonald, D. A., ed., On Borders: Perspectives on International Migration in Southern Africa. Ontario: Southern African Migration Project. Available at: glish/dialogue/atrav/publ/129/8.pdf.