Search

This paper seeks to bring to the fore the importance of education, skills and capabilities in the manner in which migrant remittances are spent. Previous studies have often lamented the use of remi...

Substantial policy and academic research on migration has focussed on migrant remittances to developing countries. That research has often given a positive evaluation of the impact of remittances on development, with specific reference to recipient households. However, there is limited research examining the indirect effect of migrant remittances on the development emanating from the activities of non-recipient households. Given the research gap, this paper seeks to examine the extent to which non-recipient households benefit from the flow of income and other material goods into their local economy. This study is based on a questionnaire survey (N = 159) and 15 semi-structured interviews. A key finding was that remittances have partly motivated the emergence of an entrepreneurial spirit in the local economy, with most of the local small businesses (including general dealer stores, bed and breakfast accommodation, construction companies etc.) run by non-recipient households. Non-recipient households have emerged as key entrepreneurial players in response to a high consumption demand amongst the recipient households. Profits generated through these small businesses are thus satisfying the basic needs of non-recipient households. Furthermore, a number of community projects are being financed through remittance income. These projects include food gardens, fishing and livestock farming which benefit both the recipient and non-recipient households. KEY WORDS: migration, development, multiplier effect, remittances, Tsholotsho

This paper traces the developmental contribution of migrant remittances sent from South Africa to the Tsholotsho district of Matabeleland North province of Zimbabwe. Since the discovery of gold in South Africa, Zimbabweans from this region have been migrating to South Africa to seek employment. In recent times, the culture of migration in Tsholotsho continues to strengthen, as women have also joined this previously male dominated livelihood strategy. Debates on migration and development have often centered on the role of remittances as a key instrument for development in migrant sending countries. Governments and multilateral institutions have also taken up remittances as a policy priority with a keen interest. This study was conducted using a mixed methods approach. A total of 159 participants completed self-administered quantitative questionnaires. In addition, 5 in-depth qualitative interviews with key informants were conducted in Tsholotsho, while 10 in-depth interviews with migrants were conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa. The results of this study show that the majority of migrant remittances are largely used for unproductive consumption. However, there also exists a measure of investment owing to the need to satisfy the surging consumer demands within the local economy. In this paper, results have shown that migrant remittances are a key livelihood factor without which many poor people would be severely vulnerable to poverty and hunger.

Globalization has resulted in accelerated rates of migration of people between countries both nationally and internationally. People often migrate in a bid to diversify their resources such as labour as well as self-insure against livelihood risks. This trend has resulted in an increase in the interactions of migration and development. Migrant remittances have emerged as a key factor constituting the core of these interactions. This paper seeks to review theories on the migration-development nexus in the context of remittances and their role in development. While this paper traces the evolution of migration theory, an attempt will be made to demonstrate the potential for integrating two theories, namely the New Economics of labour Migration and the Sustainable livelihoods Approach. It could be argued that the integration of these theories could best assist in understanding the migration-development nexus in a more holistic fashion. This could assist in a better understanding of migration-development inter...

Substantial policy and academic research on migration has focussed on migrant remittances to developing countries. That research has often given a positive evaluation of the impact of remittances on development, with specific reference to recipient households. However, there is limited research examining the indirect effect of migrant remittances on the development emanating from the activities of non-recipient households. Given the research gap, this paper seeks to examine the extent to which non-recipient households benefit from the flow of income and other material goods into their local economy. This study is based on a questionnaire survey (N = 159) and 15 semi-structured interviews. A key finding was that remittances have partly motivated the emergence of an entrepreneurial spirit in the local economy, with most of the local small businesses (including general dealer stores, bed and breakfast accommodation, construction companies etc.) run by non-recipient households. Non-recipient households have emerged as key entrepreneurial players in response to a high consumption demand amongst the recipient households. Profits generated through these small businesses are thus satisfying the basic needs of non-recipient households. Furthermore, a number of community projects are being financed through remittance income. These projects include food gardens, fishing and livestock farming which benefit both the recipient and non-recipient households., Aktualna politika i znanstvena istraživanja migracija usredotočili su se na migrantske doznake zemljama u razvoju. To je istraživanje vrlo često pozitivno ocijenilo utjecaj doznaka na razvoj, s posebnim osvrtom na kućanstva koja su primatelji. No ograničen je broj istraživanja koja ispituju neizravni učinak migrantskih doznaka na razvoj koji proizlazi iz aktivnosti kućanstava neprimatelja. S obzirom na taj jaz u istraživanju u ovom se radu pokušava istražiti koliko kućanstva koja nisu primatelji imaju koristi od protoka prihoda i drugih materijalnih dobara u svoje lokalno gospodarstvo. Ova studija temelji se na anketnom upitniku (N = 159) i petnaest polustrukturiranih intervjua. Glavni rezultat pokazuje da su doznake djelomice pokrenule poduzetnički duh u lokalnom gospodarstvu s većinom malih lokalnih poduzeća (što obuhvaća trgovine raznom robom, smještaj s noćenjem i doručkom, građevinske tvrtke itd.) koja vode kućanstva bez primanja. Ta su se kućanstva pojavila kao glavni poduzetnički igrači u odgovoru na visoke potrošačke zahtjeve kućanstava primatelja. Na taj način dobit koju ostvaruju ta mala poduzeća zadovoljava osnovne potrebe kućanstava koja nisu primatelji doznaka. Osim toga prihodima od doznaka financira se veliki broj projekata u zajednici. Ti projekti obuhvaćaju sadnju i obrađivanje vrtova, ribolov i stočarstvo, od čega imaju koristi kućanstva koja su primatelji kao i ona koja to nisu.

KEYWORDS Xenophobia. Capitalism. Interpellation. Diversity. Transnationalization. Territorialization. ABSTRACT This research paper is an outcome of the recent episodic waves of ill treatment, discrimination, exclusion and attacks directed to immigrant residing in South Africa. The aim of this paper is to invite attention through debates and discourse, examining the state of diversity and foreignness in South Africa using both Eurocentric and Afrocentric lenses. The paper has used dialogues and debates to understand the contribution of both Eurocentrism and Afrocentrism in explaining the current state of diversity and foreignness in contemporary South Africa. Results indicate that Eurocentric philosophies: suffer from serious epistemological and methodological flaws; largely contribute and explain the current state of attitudes towards African immigrants. Besides, they are responsible for imperialism that could be associated with xenophobia and racism; contribute to the homogenization of identity; and perpetuate differentiation and demarcation among the people. In addition, findings indicate that Afrocentrism: accentuates a common identity and humanity; promotes interconnectedness of humankind through the processes of transnationalization and territorialization. Besides, it offers a healing and an emancipatory environment. The researchers propose the world community to consider using both Eurocentrism and Afrocentrism in tandem and to advance research and scholarship that seeks endogenous explanations to attitudes against immigrants.

This paper seeks to critically examine the Employment Equity Act (EEA) as an instrument of achieving employment equity in post apartheid South Africa. Special emphasis will be placed on the policy of affirmative action. In this article we will attempt to illustrate how focusing on affirmative action and failure to implement policies could pose a threat to the achievement of equity in the South African labour industry. This paper was prepared by means of a literature survey wherein various previous literatures were interrogated including the actual Act in concern. In a nutshell it can be argued that the EEA as a piece of legislation has managed to augment equality in opportunities at the same time addressing the past imbalances. However there are concerns that affirmative action may pose a challenge as it is presented in discriminatory language and if handled carelessly may undermine merit, leading to disenfranchisement of deserving individuals. Another concern is that it could be used as a front by the political elite to harbor elements of corruption and nepotism to the disadvantage of the poor of the poorest amongst designated groups. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n9p578

This paper seeks to examine the possible benefits and losses that could accrue from linking human rights and development. The paper was prepared using a desktop research wherein various previous articles were examined to ascertain the extent to which the link between the human rights and development discourses is espoused. There have been growing debates regarding linking Human rights and Development. Leading multilateral development institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Bank have also embraced the Human Rights- Development nexus. Considering the fact that both these discourses have existed in parallel for a very long time an attempt to merge them is likely to be met with some measure of resistance or acceptance. Therefore, this paper seeks to evaluate the extent to which the link between Human Rights and Development adds value or loss to the development agenda. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n1p475