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Socio-Economic Drivers of Irregular Female Labour Migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa
Kenneth Mahuni and Taruna Shalini Ramessur
Published: 2026/03/01
Abstract
The study focused primarily on socio-economic drivers of migration. According to Czaika and Reinprecht (2020), this set of drivers has greater importance than other categories of migration drivers. As a result, this qualitative study examines the micro-level perspectives of the socio-economic drivers of irregular female labour migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa, complementing a quantitative study conducted earlier. The sample consisted of 20 deportees and returnees from the Masvingo, Manicaland, and Matabeleland South provinces of Zimbabwe. Ten themes were constructed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed several facets of socio-economic drivers that have received little attention in the Zimbabwean migration literature. Specifically, the results highlight the importance of aspirations and capabilities within this highly constrained and complex context. Individual agency, innovativeness, resilience, spirituality, and smuggling networks were also identified as key factors explaining irregular migration. The role of risk as a latent variable, locus of control, degree of agency in migration decision-making, culture of migration, and the intervening influence of destination proximity were likewise emphasized. The study recommends several key interventions, including raising awareness of the risks associated with irregular migration, supporting reintegration following deportation or return, improving the affordability of passports, strengthening collaboration between Zimbabwe and South Africa to enhance migration governance, and addressing the underlying socio-economic challenges that contribute to migration.
