Sociological Perspectives Of International Migration From Malawi To South Africa

Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject Sociology - Individual, Groups, Society, University of Botswana, course: MPhil Sociology, language: English, abstract: The study of migration is of concern to sociology. Sociological understanding of migration trends can help uncover insights that may not be uncovered by other humanities discipline concerned with issues of migration. This paper tries to apply sociological perspective into issues of migration in a way to establish a unique sociological understanding and analytical paths regarding issues of migration. The paper focusses on building an understanding on how sociological analysis can be used to study migration and build a unique understanding of the area. It contends that sociology has a unique way of understanding which can be very useful in studying migration discourse.

Labour migration from Malawi to South Africa is a century-old phenomenon. It dates as far back as the 1880s following the establishment of diamond and gold mines. In the period up to the 1980s, this migration took either formal or informal nature whereas in the post-1990 period it became exclusively informal, popularly known as selufu in Malawi. This book is an attempt to shed light on both forms of migration over time. By using the case of Mzimba, one of the major labour migration districts in Malawi, Perspectives of Labour Migration shows that migration, especially in the post-1990 period, remains a preoccupation of the different categories of both men and women in selected areas in the country. A cross-section of Malawians continue to regard emigration to South Africa as a means to an end: a way of fulfilling their heart-felt and life-time goals at household and societal levels. Because of their distinguished and unparalleled determination, these labour migrants continue to flock to South Africa in the midst of such challenges as xenophobia, crime, arrests and deportations. The book advances the argument that Malawian labour migrants are purposive and rational human beings who are ready to overcome these challenges, at times using the most improbable means, for example, through the use of mankhwala gha mwabi (luck medicine).

Includes statistics.

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