Page 114 - IJPS-10-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Climate change-induced human mobility

Chimanimani who have been affected by tropical cyclones in the south, still has flowing rivers due to abundant
in recent years. Historically, there are social and cultural rainfall received in the region. According to the Ministry
ties that exist between Mozambique and Zimbabwean of Local Government, Urban, and Rural Development,
border communities. The Chimanimani communities over 20,000 individuals from the dry regions of districts
have traditionally maintained relations with people from such as Mutare, Nyanga, and Chipinge have moved to the
Mozambique in response to economic, political, and Chimanimani area, settling on fertile land not designated
social reasons. Mozambicans fled to Zimbabwe during for human habitation (Mambondiyani, 2015). However,
the 1975 civil conflict and settled at Chipinge’s Tongogara due to droughts caused by cyclones and high temperatures
refugee camp (Hughes, 1999; Pophiwa et al., 2023). over the last couple of years in communal areas, these
At the same time, others also managed to integrate in trends have changed. The majority of the participants
areas like Chimanimani. Amid Zimbabwe’s economic revealed that the worsening climatic conditions have
catastrophe, people in Chimanimani and Chipinge travel been exposing Ndau people to food insecurity and low
to Mozambican villages for jobs (Hlongwana, 2021; Spiegel agricultural incomes; hence people opting to out-migrate
et al., 2023). The historic cultural exchange between the two and settle permanently in places like Chipinge or Buhera.
nations has created stronger relations based on marriage, These are places often referred to as not agriculturally
kinship, and ethnicity (Hlongwana, 2021; MacGonagle, productive. One participant had this to say:
2007). As a consequence, there are nomadic families today “I stayed behind, I was born here, and I am a leader in
along the border. this community, I cannot afford to go to areas like Chipinge
While others had the option to move across the border and Buhera where I have seen others go to resettle. The
to find livelihoods, Participant A30 had a completely process of resettling requires more capital but those with
different encounter, with Cyclone Idai being her biggest money have gone there to start animal husbandry among
challenge in terms of climate-induced disasters in recent other projects. I have life examples of people who moved
memory. The participant had this to say: away from here permanently. These include some of my

“I lost everything during the cyclone, I used to be a cross- friends and other well-to-do families who can withstand
border trader earning a living, but the cyclone destroyed such areas. As for me, I have to stay with people who are
my house, and my travel documents were destroyed in the left here.” (Participant B2, Village headman, Male, Kopa,
process. I do not have money to get new documents for Chimanimani).
me to resume my business.” (Participant A30, community Other participants echoed these sentiments, noting
member, female, talking cycles, Ngangu, Chimanimani). that these movements were driven by the high prevalence
This account underscores the varied impact of Cyclone of natural disasters, such as cyclones that killed people
Idai on individuals’ livelihoods and highlights the severe and destroyed properties and agricultural lands in
challenges faced by those who lacked the resources Chimanimani. However, those who moved had financial
to recover. Participant A30’s experience illustrates the capital to start new projects where they could and also to
compounded difficulties of losing both property and withstand the effects of climate change in those lands that
essential documentation, which hindered the resumption are not agriculturally suitable. The historical narratives
of her cross-border trading business. This case exemplifies reveal that people who had kinsmen in closer areas such as
the critical need for targeted support to help the most Chipinge and Borderline villages in Mozambique were able
vulnerable rebuild their lives and regain economic stability to make quick mobility decisions following the climatic
in the aftermath of climate-induced disasters. disasters. The Chimanimani area is mostly inhabited
by the Ndau people who have relatives with other Ndau
3.3. Long-term mobility patterns kinsmen in Chipinge and Mozambique (Hlongwana,

Field observations reveal that human mobility patterns in 2021). These ties played an important role in motivating
Chimanimani have shifted. Previously, people migrated the mobility patterns of Chimanimani people residing in
to Chimanimani in search of arable land and permanent the most affected areas, like Kopa and Ngangu. Kinship ties
settlement due to its locations in regions I and II, which influenced families’ decisions to move permanently away
receive better rainfall. Some individuals choose to move to from the affected areas or the ability to withstand times
the area permanently. Droughts linked to climate change of climatic crisis. One participant summed up the whole
made people move from Manicaland’s western low-lying situation well.
areas, which receive rain not enough to sustain agricultural “In the aftermath of the cyclone, in fact, in times of
activities. However, a stretch of mountains in the province’s crisis, we have always helped each other, they say, “Kutsva
east, running from Nyanga in the north to Chimanimani kwendebvu Varume vanodzimurana.” It is an idiom that

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 108 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2983