Zimbos migrate to rural areas 

Source: Zimbos migrate to rural areas | The Financial Gazette

Own Correspondent

THE Labour Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ) has reported that 1,14 million people have migrated from urban to rural areas due to increasing urban poverty.

Revealing the statistics  last week to The Financial Gazette LEDRIZ director, Godfrey Kanyenze said: “Between 1994 and 2014 a total of 1,14 million people migrated from urban to rural areas. A substantial number of people left the urban centers in the year 2001 partly due to the land reform and redistribution exercise. Rapid de-industrialisation, deteriorating economic environment and increased unavailability of decent jobs in the urban centers are some of the push factors prompting people to relocate to rural areas.”

He further noted that the majority of those leaving the city were women and youths who are increasingly finding it difficult to meet the city’s living costs.

“Affording rentals is becoming difficult for many because rewarding jobs are not easily coming by hence most people are realising that rural life is cheaper and gives them the advantage of being able to produce their own food. However, such developments signify serious structural regression. Ideally, the country’s populace should be moving towards manufacturing jobs, but due to desperation they are now opting for employment which guarantees survival,” he said adding that the agricultural jobs are not decent as they lack social protection, health and safety and are not subjected to collective bargaining negotiations.

Economic meltdown has emboldened Zimbabwe industry’s viability which prompted most companies to take advantage of the July 17, 2015 supreme court judgment which granted the green light for companies to terminate employment contracts on notice. As a result, over 20 000 employees lost their jobs.
In 2016 the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions reported that nearly 150 companies had folded in the second quarter of 2016. This in addition to 81 companies which ceased operations in the first quarter of this year, brings the total number of companies that have closed shop in the first half of the year to 231

The tide has spilled into the new dispensation, thereby contributing to rural migration. – By Alois Vinga