Browsing by Author "Dangarembwa, Noel"

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    Searching for “greener pastures” : a narrative study of the livelihood experiences of Zimbabwean migrants with disabilities in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12) Dangarembwa, Noel; Ned, Lieketseng; Geiger, Martha; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Rehabilitation Studies.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : There remains a dearth of studies that examine the link between disability, migration and livelihoods at both an international and local level. Using a conceptual framework that includes the intersectional model and the push-pull model, the aim of this study was to explore the livelihood experiences of Zimbabwean migrants with disabilities who live in Cape Town, South Africa. The objectives of the study were: - To identify the factors that “push” persons with disabilities out of Zimbabwe and the “pull” factors that “draw” them to South Africa; - To gather narrative descriptions from Zimbabwean migrants with disabilities in South Africa about their livelihood experiences; - To identify contextual factors that influence the livelihood experiences of Zimbabwean migrants with disabilities in South Africa; - To describe the effect of the intersection of various identity markers such as disability, nationality, poverty, gender, and migrant status, on the livelihoods of Zimbabwean migrants with disabilities in South Africa. Using narrative inquiry as a methodological approach, narrative interviews were used to collect data. The data was analysed at three levels: 1) a narrative analysis approach to produce whole life stories; 2) an analysis of narratives approach to generate themes from the storied data and 3) a deeper level of analysis which is integrated in the discussion of findings and that seeks to further comprehend the data. The findings of this study indicate that all participants were “pushed” out of their country of origin (Zimbabwe) by primarily political instability and economic hardships which made it hard for them to sustain their livelihoods. Participants were “pulled” to the host country (South Africa) by what they perceived to be “greener pastures”, in a country which seemingly “flows with milk and honey”. Once Zimbabwean migrants with disabilities arrived in South Africa, they assumed layers of identities that shaped the way through which they experienced the oppression that characterised their livelihoods in a terrain in which they are generally regarded as “good for nothing people” who migrate to South Africa to squander the resources of the host nation. However, participants did not passively receive oppression, but they claimed their agency and actively engaged in numerous shifts and adaptations in South Africa in ways that enabled them to establish and sustain their livelihoods. Among other identity markers, disability, migrant status and poverty intersect to frame the livelihood experiences of Zimbabwean migrants with disabilities in South Africa. Conclusion: the use of a narrative methodology was appropriate for illuminating the livelihood experiences of Zimbabwean migrants with disabilities in South Africa, because it allowed the co-construction of knowledge through dialogue and interaction with participants. There is need for the governments of both the country of origin (Zimbabwe) and the host country (South Africa) to pay attention to the livelihood experiences of persons with disabilities, so as to address their needs and concerns through policy and practice, thereby enhancing their well-being. It is my hope that this study will prompt further studies, in order to broaden the migration and disability knowledge particularly in Africa.