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Original Articles

Remittances and development: the impact of migration to South Africa on rural livelihoods in southern Zimbabwe

Pages 123-136 | Published online: 12 Apr 2007
 

Abstract

The development potential of remittances has not received much policy attention in the migrants' countries of origin. The Homelink facility established by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in May 2004 excludes undocumented migrants, who are unlikely to use formal channels to send their remittances back home, and studies on international migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa have neglected the role of remittances, especially from undocumented migrants. However, some countries have realised this potential and developed strategies to encourage the flow and investment of remittances, which can contribute significantly to poverty reduction and development. Without such regulations and policies, which require the collaboration of government, migrant groups, the local community, non-governmental organisations and other international organisations, migrant remittances will continue to be used mainly for consumption, with a very small proportion being invested in sustainable investment.

1Senior Lecturer and Chairman, Department of Sociology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare.

The author expresses special thanks to the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) for funding the research.

Notes

1Senior Lecturer and Chairman, Department of Sociology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare.

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