Majority Zimbos want a borderless Southern Africa

A survey done by the Afrobarometer has revealed that the majority of the people in Zimbabwe want a borderless Southern Africa where they are able to move across all the member states freely.

The report states that three-quarters (76%) of Zimbabweans say that Southern Africans should be able to move freely across international borders in order to trade or work. 

"Only one in five (21%) think the government should limit people's cross-border movement. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents say that, in practice, crossing international borders is "difficult" or "very difficult," reads the report.

"Almost half (48%) of Zimbabweans see the economic impact of migrants as positive, while 35% say it is negative. Large majorities say they have no qualms about living next door to foreign workers or immigrants (86%) or refugees (77%)."

Afrobarometer also states that even so, more than six in 10 citizens say the government should reduce the number of foreign job seekers it allows to enter the country (47%) or eliminate such immigration altogether (16%). 

It noted that similar proportions favour reducing (49%) or eliminating (12%) entry by refugees. 

"Nearly six in 10 respondents (58%) say they have considered leaving Zimbabwe "a little bit," "somewhat," or "a lot." This figure is especially high among highly educated citizens (75% of those with post-secondary education) and the youth (68% of 18- to 35-year-olds)," it reads.

"About seven in 10 have thought about moving abroad among those with parttime or full-time jobs (67%-70%) and those who are unemployed (69%).The most common reasons motivating emigration are economic: 58% of prospective migrants point to finding better work opportunities, while 32% want to escape economic hardship/poverty."

The report states that the most popular destination for potential emigrants is South Africa (38%). 

"Almost one quarter (23%) would move to Europe, while North America (12%) is next on the list of preferred destinations.  Freedom of movement and the AfCFTA Freedom of movement is a basic human right, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 13 provides for travel across borders, while Article 14 allows anyone to seek refuge from persecution (United Nations General Assembly, 1948)," reads the report. 

"What do Zimbabweans think about the free movement of people in the region? A large majority (76%) of Zimbabweans agree that "people living in Southern Africa should be able to move freely across international borders to trade or work in other countries". Only one-fifth (21%) want the government to "limit the cross-border movement of people and goods" to protect its own citizens."