V.
Diasporisation; why, when and via where, to De Doorns?
1.
Why De Doorns as a destination?
It is clear from travelling times, which averaged 3,5 days to cover a distance in excess of
3,000km from Zimbabwe, that most people who are now at De Doorns travelled there
directly, knowing that this was their final destination. As De Doorns is so far from Zimbabwe,
respondents were asked where and from whom they had first heard about De Doorns. Word
of mouth from family and friends is overwhelmingly the most common source of information
of work at De Doorns, with 78% reporting this.
The majority of people ‐ 60% ‐ first heard of De Doorns while in Zimbabwe, with the balance
hearing of these work opportunties while in some other part of South Africa. Within South
Africa, people were most likely to have heard of De Doorns in Johannesburg (10), followed by
Musina (7), and Cape Town (6). It is clear that networks of migrant information operate
across the length of the subcontinent at this time, with job opportunities spreading by word of
mouth very effectively. Thirteen different towns were mentioned as the location of where
information on De Doorns was first heard.
2.
How many years/ seasons in De Doorns?
30% of respondents moved there four to five years ago, and it is this group that
could be categorised as having left Zimbabwe primarily as a result of the demolitions
of 2005.
It is interesting to note that this a minority of our respondents, although a sizeable
minority, and to further note that prior to OM only two respondents were in De
Doorns!
60% of people in De Doorns have been there for two years or less.
OM can thus be given the responsibility for having been the precipitating factor for De Doorns
becoming an important destination for Zimbabweans in 2005, since when there has been a
steady increase in movement to De Doorns. Once more it is worth noting that OM alone has
not been responsible for the diasporisation of Zimbabweans, and that most of this group
appear to have left Zimbabwe in 2008 (2 years in De Doorns) or 2009 (1 year) for the first
time. This is in keeping with the exponential diasporisation that we noted in our 2009
research, precipitated by the more general economic meltdown.
3.
Have you returned to Zimbabwe?
As most respondents reported having children in Zimbabwe, we were concerned as to how
often they have returned home.
67% of respondents had returned to Zimbabwe either never, or only once. 60% of
respondents have been out of the country two years or less, and 50% have been out for
one year or less, so it is not surprising if this group has not returned yet, considering
the distances – although one or two years is a very long period in the life of a growing
child.
21% had been either two or three times
7% had been more frequently than this – usually mothers who commute to try and
spend some time with their children, and to take them groceries and other goods.
67
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