Rural‐urban linkages in contemporary Harare: why migrants need their land

Abstract

Prior to independence in 1980 the urbanisation of Zimbabwe's African population occurred under a restrictive regime which prevented many urban workers from obtaining rights to remain permanently in urban areas. As a result many families had no choice but to maintain their links with the overcrowded rural areas, to which they would eventually have to return. Once restrictions were lifted it was to be expected that migration patterns would alter. Surveys conducted amongst post‐independence migrants in Harare's high‐density areas found that many changes had occurred, and in particular there had been a shift towards longer‐term migration. Many families now accompany the household head for at least part of the year. Nevertheless, only a minority of migrants planned to remain permanently in town. There was a strong perception that the maintenance of rural links was essential as economic security for the eventualities of old age and unemployment when urban expenses could not be covered. There is, however, pressure to divorce urban migrants from their rural land rights, in order to alleviate land shortages in the African communal lands. It is argued that since welfare and pension provision is still minimal, such pressure should be resisted since it could lead to widespread urban destitution.