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Emigration and immigration

Zimbabweans' Mixed Views on Migration: Favoring Free Movement but Seeking Fewer Immigrants

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Zimbabweans show a complex attitude towards migration, with a majority supporting the free movement of Southern Africans across international borders for work and trade, but also expressing a desire to reduce the number of foreigners entering the country. Three-quarters (76%) of respondents believe that Southern Africans should be able to move freely across borders, while only one in five (21%) think the government should limit cross-border movement. However, a large majority (47%) advocates for reducing the number of foreign job seekers, and 16% want to eliminate immigration altogether.

Key Takeaways:

  • 76% of Zimbabweans support the free movement of Southern Africans across international borders for work and trade.
  • Only 21% believe the government should limit cross-border movement.
  • 67% of respondents find crossing international borders to be "difficult" or "very difficult."
  • 48% perceive the economic impact of migrants as positive, while 35% see it as negative.
  • 86% have no qualms about living next door to foreign workers or immigrants, while 77% feel the same way about refugees.
  • The Zimbabwean government has recently acceded to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families (IOM, 2024d).
  • Labour outmigration has benefits such as poverty reduction through remittances and knowledge transfer, but it also has significant challenges, including brain drain, irregular migration, and human trafficking.
  • Zimbabwe's net migration rate was -6 people per 1,000 population in 2023, indicating a significant outflow of people.

Statistics:

  • 76% of Zimbabweans support the free movement of Southern Africans across international borders for work and trade (Afrobarometer, 2025).
  • 21% believe the government should limit cross-border movement for work and trade (Afrobarometer, 2025).
  • 67% of respondents find crossing international borders to be "difficult" or "very difficult" (Afrobarometer, 2025).
  • 48% perceive the economic impact of migrants as positive (Afrobarometer, 2025).
  • 35% see the economic impact of migrants as negative (Afrobarometer, 2025).
  • 86% have no qualms about living next door to foreign workers or immigrants (Afrobarometer, 2025).
  • 77% are comfortable living next to refugees (Afrobarometer, 2025).
  • Zimbabwe has 429,000 migrants, mostly from neighboring countries, and hosts more than 20,000 refugees and asylum seekers (Global Migration Portal, 2024).
  • Zimbabwe's net migration rate was -6 people per 1,000 population in 2023 (Migration Data Portal, 2024).

Sources:

  • Afrobarometer (2025)
  • International Organization for Migration (IOM, 2024a)
  • United Nations (UN)
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2025)
  • Global Migration Portal (2024)
  • Migration Data Portal (2024)
  • Mahove (2021)
  • Tevera & Zinyama (2002)

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