December 2024 Flow Monitoring Report: Migration Trends in Zimbabwe

In December 2024, Zimbabwe documented 49,220 movements and interviewed 1,102 migrants, with a notable increase due to the festive season. The majority were Zimbabwean, primarily engaging in commercial activities. The South Africa-Zimbabwe corridor showed the highest movement frequency, and significant traffic through border posts was noted.

The Flow Monitoring Report for December 2024 in Zimbabwe reveals that 49,220 movements were documented, with 1,102 migrants—52% female and 48% male—interviewed at 22 Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs). The report indicates that 89% of surveyed migrants identified as Zimbabwean nationals, while 6% were Zambian nationals. Most Zambians (61%) were traveling to Zimbabwe for commercial purposes, primarily selling clothing. Notably, there was a significant 67% increase in total movements compared to the prior month, attributed to the December festive holiday.

Movements were primarily inflows, constituting 74% of the total, with outflows at 26%. The key districts for sending were Beitbridge (62%), Harare (14%), and Chiredzi (6%). In contrast, the main receiving districts included Harare (31%), Bulawayo (24%), and Beitbridge (12%). Matabeleland South province recorded the most outflows at 65%, while Harare had the highest inflows at 32%. Migrants from Matabeleland South predominantly traveled to Limpopo (62%), Eastern Cape (18%), and Gauteng (17%) in South Africa. Among arrivals in Harare, 58% originated from Gauteng and 11% from Lusaka province in Zambia.

The South Africa-Zimbabwe corridor accounted for the bulk of movements, with 46,204 recorded, followed by the Zambia-Zimbabwe corridor with 3,016 movements. In the South Africa-Zimbabwe corridor, 54% of migrants engaged in short-term movements, while 15% pursued long-term economic activities. The Zambia-Zimbabwe corridor primarily involved short-term movements (59%) and 25% related to long-term economic activities. Furthermore, the Zimbabwe Department of Immigration Control reported significant traffic: 322,931 entries and 185,814 exits at Beitbridge border post, alongside 19,886 entries and 4,254 exits at Chirundu border post.

In summary, the December 2024 Flow Monitoring Report in Zimbabwe highlights significant migratory trends, emphasizing a substantial increase in movements likely due to festive activities. A large proportion of migrants are Zimbabwean nationals engaged in various economic activities. The report also underscores the dominant corridors and the flow patterns, revealing critical insights into regional migration dynamics.

Original Source: reliefweb.int