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Article Title: Illegal Migration by Zimbabweans Into South Africa: Is Lack of Documentation Becoming A New Humanitarian Challenge
by Shadreck Macheka, Wilfred Lunga, and Charles Musarurwa

Abstract:
Immigration is a source of concern to politicians and the public alike the world over. This phenomenon often characterized by labour flight from relatively poor and politically unstable economies to regional economic hubs, is closely tied to illegal immigration activities. Thus the purpose of this research was to investigate factors influencing Zimbabweans to migrate illegally to South Africa or even among those with valid passports. The objectives guiding the research included the following: identifying the causes of illegal migration by Zimbabweans into South Africa; means used by migrants to cross the borders, and examining the contribution of immigration policies in the two countries� documentation challenges in creating humanitarian risks. Qualitative methodology which included document study, informal in-depth interviews with illegal migrants, immigration officials, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) officials as well as focus group discussions with asylum seekers were employed. The findings show that lack of proper travel documents due to backlogs and costs associated with obtaining such documents forced many of the migrants into illegal practices such as circumventing official crossing points or falling prey to human traffickers. Besides, huge economic disparities between the two Southern African states are known causes of illegal movements within the region, with incessant political strife, health issues, poverty and corruption characterising the source area. Apprehension and deportation of illegal migrants has become the most viable instrument of choice pursued by the South African government. Interestingly, since 2010 South Africa has chosen to document illegal migrants upon realization that migrants were also significant contributors to that country�s GDP. Thus this paper supports and recommends profiling and easing the issuing of proper documents to citizens of the two countries as well as harmonising immigration policies under the auspices of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). However In conducting the research, a range of local factors worked against the researchers. Immigration officials were not at liberty to divulge information as they are bound by government secrets act, and thus readers should take this into consideration when assessing the research findings. Furthermore since qualitative methodology was used, it means the research findings are subjective in nature and hence cannot be replicated elsewhere in the world or in another period.

Keywords: illegal migration, Zimbabwe, immigration, documentation, risk, South Africa, asylum seekers,

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