Crossborder migration in Southern Africa

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Cross-border migration in Southern Africa
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Background

• Historically a region of high migration between
  and within countries
• South Africa and Botswana are the most popular
  destinations. Zimbabweans
• currently account for most migrants.
• In five months South Africa received 14,000 new
  arrivals (UNHCR, 2004)
• It is estimated that 10-15 children per day
  cross the border illegally into Mozambique
  from Zimbabwe
• Due to the illegal nature of cross-border
  migration the numbers are only estimates.

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Where do children go?

• Case-study Zimbabwe and Mozambique
• Four main border crossings Machipanda,
  Espungabera in Manica Province, Chicualacuala in
  Gaza Province and Cuchamano in Tete Province
• Only 17 of the border was monitored and
  protected by authorities on either side in 2003
• How do they cross the border?
• Some cross the border with truck drivers, most
  cross by foot under the wire barriers.
• Between South Africa and Zimbabwe many risk their
  lives crossing the Limpopo river which forms the
  border between the two countries.
• The border between Mozambique and South Africa
  migrants forces migrants to cross mountains
  through forests at night.
• Some cross legally with their parents with proper
  identification
• Some cross the border alone or with young
  companions. Some are as young as 8 years old.
• Some come with Majitha (young men) who promise
  to help cross the border. Guides or Mayanes are
  often cruel and rob the people they guide.

We came with majitha they had promised to help
cross the border, but all they wanted was our
money (Themba, 14)
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Why do children migrate?

• Case-study Why do Zimbabweans migrate?
• Push Lack of opportunities
• Poverty migration allows children to provide
  money for their family
• Lack of jobs, 70-80 unemployment
• Natural disasters such as drought leads to hunger
  and reduced income
• Prolonged sickness and death of family members
  sometimes from AIDS (24.6 are infected with
  HIV/AIDS)
• Worsening political, social and economic
  situation, e.g. 100,000 inflation rate, life
  expectancy of 34 for women.
• Pull Opportunities
• Perceived employment opportunities due to
  economic boom in South Africa
• Political stability and a higher standard of
  living (e.g. life expectancy of 50 years in South
  Africa)
• Porous borders with little chance of deportation

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What work do children do? (1)

• 1. Construction
• I work here as a dagga boy I dig foundations
  and mix
• cement for people who are building a house. The
  work is
• very hard. (Emmanuel,15)
• 2. Informal Trade e.g. boiled eggs, clothes
• Children work for an trader who gives them stock
  and a
• salary.
• The children travel by taxi to a particular area
  and then sell
• house to house.
• I do not have money to buy the stock myself so I
  work for
• another man. I sell for him and he gives me 2ZAr
  for every
• 10ZAr I make. You have to work at least for a
  year to save enough
• money to go back home with supplies and give to
  your family
• (Musa, 15)

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What work do children do? (2)

• 3. Sex work
• Children may be as young as twelve providing sex
  services to truck
• drivers and other motorists passing through the
  area.
• Zimbabwean sex workers are cheaper than
  Mozambican prostitutes.
• They earn just over 50p per client.
• 4. Domestic work
• Im working as a house girl, cleaning, washing
  and ironing
• for a family. I did no expect this kind of job
  when I left to
• come here. I was expecting to be a South African
  nurse!
• (Kuda, 17)
• 5. Agricultural
• Children work as farm labourers or taking care of
  livestock. They can
• earn up to 33 a month working long hours.
  Zimbabweans are

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What difficulties do migrant children face?
1. Labour exploitation I know they will not
pay me the way that I like because they are
adults and I am a child. They will cheat me. I
work from morning till evening and sometimes we
finish only at 7 oclock. We have not been paid
yet. I dont know how much he will pay me
(Emmanual, 15). Migrant workers are not
protected by minimum wage or working hours
legislation 2. Lack of protection Children
cannot ask for help from the police or anyone
else to protect their rights as they are not
legally in the country. They may be deported.
They often lack documentation which would defend
their rights. Sex workers are particularly at
risk and are exposed to the possibility of
HIV/AIDS, physical and psychological injuries.
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3. Poor living conditions
This is my room. It is not always clean because
we share it with the rest of the family (Musa,
15) I stay in a little house I made from some
pieces of tin at the back of a persons yard.
Before that I was sleeping in the bush outside
the town and cover myself with some grass to that
no one can see me (Emmanual, 15) Many
residents in South Africa build shacks with tin
in their back gardens and rent them out to
children
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4. Harassment Children face discrimination and
resentment by fellow native workers. They also
face harassment and arrest by authorities on both
sides of the border.
5. Limited access to schools and health care.
Priority is given for native students. Those
with access may have problems learning in a
different language. I would like to go to
school but when I got here I did not have
anything or anyone, no mother or father and in
Mozambique you need money to attend school. 200
Meticals every week and I dont have that money
so I work (Themba, 14)
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What does the future hold?

• More information is needed. We need to better
  understand why children migrate and the risks and
  vulnerabilities they face.
• Government and local partners need to become more
  aware of the situation. No children rights or
  protection organisations in Mozambique currently
  provide services aimed at Zimbabwe children.
• Border officials and police forces need to become
  aware on rights, laws and enforcement relating to
  child abuse, exploitation and prostitution.
• More legal control over working hours, conditions
  etc. is needed
• Creation of spaces, resources and activities fit
  for children.