EMIGRATION in Zimbabwe is currently at its peak, with indications that the country witnessed a sharp increase in the number of emigrants between 2020 and 2021 largely for employment reasons.
By Michael Gwarisa
Preliminary findings from the 2022 National Housing and Population Census (HPC) indicate that the most emigrants from Zimbabwe were based in the Southern African region and in particular South Africa with 773,246 and Botswana with 47,928. For overseas countries, the United Kingdom had 23,166 emigrants.
The number of emigrants was increasing since the 1980’s. There was a sharp increase on the number of emigrants between 1980 and 1990 that was followed by a sharp decline between 1990 and 2000. There was a steady increase in the number of emigrants between 2001 to 2015 There was a general rise in the number of emigrants, both males and females since 1980. The highest numbers of emigrants were reported between 2020 to 2021,” said Dr Taguma Mahonde, the Zimstat Director General during a briefing to disseminate the 2022 Population and Housing Census preliminary results on migration.
At the time of departure, 64% of the emigrants had completed lower secondary education Primary Education, 18%Upper Secondary Education 8%. The data shows that the most of the persons, 84 percent (761,548 out of 908,907) emigrated for employment reasons while 9 percent and 5 percent emigrated for family reasons and study/education respectively. 90% of the emigrants 10 years and above were not working at the time of departure.
“Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces had relatively more people who had emigrated for employment purposes than other provinces. Harare and Bulawayo provinces had relatively more people who had emigrated for education or training purposes.”
In all provinces, males emigrants were more than female emigrants Masvingo 104,716 Males; 48,668 Females Mat South 81,656 Males; 61,656 Females Mash Central 12,648 Males; 10,402 Females.
Harare province had the highest number of lifetime in-migrants (1,037,907) while Manicaland province had the largest number of lifetime out-migrants (586,930). Five provinces including Harare and Bulawayo were net gainers while the other five provinces including Manicaland and Masvingo experienced net loss of migrants. Harare: 26.2% male; 28.5% female Masvingo: -15.2% male; -14.4% female.
Between 2012 and 2022; Harare province had the greatest number of both in-migrants (351,569) and out-migrants (317,599). Compared to other provinces other than Harare, Manicaland had the largest number of out-migrants (276,588). Mashonaland East Province was the greatest net gainer of migrants (11.7% males; 11.6%. females). Manicaland province experienced a net loss of (-10.1% males, -9.1% females). Matabeleland North gained more males (1.7%) but experienced a loss in females (-0.01%).
“In the last 12 months, Harare and Bulawayo provinces had greater out-migration flows than inmigration flows. The other remaining provinces save for Matabeleland South, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central generally recorded greater in-migration flows than out-migration.”
Meanwhile, 236,246 persons were born outside Zimbabwe Of the 137,594 persons born in South Africa, 23,476 persons were residing in Matabeleland South. Of the 23,062 persons residing in Bulawayo, 17,840 were born in South Africa Of the 37,209 persons residing in Harare, 16, 018 were born in South Africa.
