Leiden University Student Repository

Cozzatella, Chiara (2023)

Contributing to the Economy but Unacknowledged: A Study of Zimbabwean Immigrants in Botswana

Master thesis | African Studies (MA)

This work starts with two interrogatives, asking whether Zimbabwean immigrants in Botswana contribute to the economy, and to what extent they are integrated in the country. To understand these issues, a historical framework is outlined to understand the Zimbabwean migratory flows to Botswana. Therefore, an analysis of the economic movements created by Zimbabwean immigrants in Botswana, both documented and undocumented ones, is conducted on the basis of quantitive and qualitative data collected during fieldwork research in Gaborone at the beginning of 2023. Overall, this work shows that Zimbabwean immigrants generate enormous amounts of money yearly in Botswana. On the other hand, it cannot be easily said that Zimbabweans are integrated into the country. While they are now a normalized presence in it and feel so accordingly, they do not enjoy structural integration.

Botswana

Zimbabwe

Migration

Economic Contribution

Author

Cozzatella, Chiara

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Walter Nkwi Gam

ECTS Credits

12

Language

en