By Nombuso Dlamini | IOL News |
Many Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa have experienced or witnessed discrimination and expect to be a victim of social violence in some way in the future.
This is according to a study by Dr Rowan Madzamba of Zimbabwe, which earned him a PhD in Public Health from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Madzamba’s research examined the prevalence of traumatic incidents experienced by Zimbabwean immigrants, and how the migration process and losses involved result in stressful psychological acculturation and behaviour change.
His study revealed that nearly every Zimbabwean immigrant in South Africa had witnessed and/or experienced discrimination and xenophobia, and still expected to encounter social violence at some time in the future. It also revealed that immigrants live in fear of the unknown, which hinders them from fully integrating into South African society.
“Language and communication barriers as well as a different interpretation of culture regarding treatment and sickness are the main challenges health professionals face when attending to migrant patients. The study further shows that the public health information and data systems which report current public health information do not address migration adequately, and there is a poor understanding of migration and health in South Africa,” said Madzamba.
“My PhD journey was exciting, challenging and an experience which needed courage and lots of emotional support.
“Growing up an orphan, I completed high school in Zimbabwe, moving to South Africa for my tertiary education.”
He said the experience of being an immigrant and a young man with no family in South Africa was a challenge. “Completing my PhD is one of the greatest achievements of my life which I believe my mother, wherever she may be, would be proud of as well. Coming to South Africa, the goal and mission was to obtain a PhD. It really was a journey of ups and downs, heartbreak and betrayal before the goal was achieved.”
![South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meets then African Union Chair and Rwandan President Paul Kagame on the eve of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 29 November 2018. [Photo: GCIS]](https://i0.wp.com/nehandaradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cyril-Ramaphosa-and-Paul-Kagame-GCIS.webp?resize=150%2C100&ssl=1 "Kagame threatens South Africa’s Ramaphosa over DRC intervention")
Honestly how can you be safe without documents, no job security, all the threats from our fellow South African Brothers. Wamanyika wakabva wandoti hawo kubviro nyenga mhayiyo chaiko.
Alphonsus Makanga Thank you for your onesty, I wish they can’t stop painting SA n it’s Citizens with a dirty brush just few days ago Zimbabwe arrested Illegally Malawians.
Enhle Manyelela Boora we came in SA for work and we don’t blame anyone because they have accommodated us for years, our government has failed us and no one is ready to face it. From the look of things come 2023 they will rig again and aluta continua. Being a Zimbabwean is a crime and punishment on its own.
Alphonsus Makanga do you think South Africans care about your papers?aslong as you are Zimbabwean automatically you are a criminal with smelly armpits.
Alphonsus MakangaAlphonsus Makanga My hubby is from Zimbambwe n I wish he can see this, because when We talked about this We end up fighting but you are being truthful.
Enhle Manyelela Boora fighting doesn’t solve anything. What we need now is divine intervention. Lord in your mercy hear the cry of your faithful people back home and in diaspora.🙏
Alphonsus Makanga where has divine intervention helped Zim. We need to fight. That’s the only thing that has worked in Zim
Ronald Mapfumo you can lead my guy we will always follow. What we want is to be free at the end of the day. If there is any base for training kindly let me know will definitely support you.
Alphonsus Makanga mugabe finished Zimbabwean resources fighting for madela to be out of prison, but today SouthAfricans have forgotten everything bcz of loving to see blood , Zimbabweans are now enemies of SouthAfricans, if u give a dog milk tomorrow it will kill u
Kutove nema documents ndiko kunotori neproblem bcz unoonekwa easy, document rika expire basa rapera, saka kutogara usina madocument acho ndiko kunotori boe
Enhle Manyelela Boora Illegal immigrants who are Malawian where arrested and devoted buy the relevant authorities now what is happening in SA is citizens are taking the law into their own hands foreigners are being attacked especially Zimbabweans weather you have the right documents or not social media has made it worse
Alphonsus Makanga you don’t need any base and any training. Your numbers enough unless you are not united. Your numbers will make a brick, a rock, sticks formidable weapons. When you show them that you are no longer afraid to die they will start be afraid of their lives.
The problem now is people are scared to die. When people protest and one or two are killed you don’t see anyone the following day. That’s the weakness they are feeding on. If people would continue with the struggle you will see what will happen.
I would say they know their fears! As does everyone else!
Zimbabwean immigrants in SA live in fear of the unknown – study finding – Nehanda Radio – https://t.co/w6powlcj0o https://t.co/JwW4CIj3tf
Let them go back to zimbabwe 🙆
Samuel Lee the one whom u tell to come to southafrica using yo transportation,is the one whom u shall tell to go back to Zimbabwe bcz he or she is eating in yo pot,
Veronica Mundandi so stop crying about their behavior when they kick your a$$ bcz they didn’t call u fix zimbabwe then🙆🤷south africans this n thet voetsek it’s their country u can tell them how to run their country bcz they can’t tell u how to run a$$hole zimbabwe
Its cruel
They must go and vote
Lilly Goshen go there and vote yoself dont control pple bcz pple are not yo car
Veronica Mundandi I it was a just a word of encouragement because without voting ticharamba tichichemedzwa nezvatinoziva. Dai Vana baba vedu vakada kuita moyo sewamuinawo tingadai tichiri pasi paIan Smith. But vakaramba kunyangwe vakakundwa first Chimurenga vakasarudza kurwa second Chimurenga. So never give up. The is power of again. Try try try again if at first you don’t succeed. Pamberi nekuvhotera shanduko✊✊✊
Honourable Moses Sosera ian smith aitove nani it means vana baba vako vakato dzinga vanhu vaitove ryt
Veronica Mundandi nyaya haisi pakutsvaka aiva nani panguva yekare nyaya iri kunovhota.
Veronica Mundandi “don’t control pple bcz pple are not yo car” it seems you don’t want encouragement he or she is not controlling anyone but encouraging
Honourable Moses Sosera thats a control if ur telling us to do what u want!
Honourable Moses Sosera go and vote yourself don’t force people
Kusina amai hakuendwi
Umarley Time vako mai uri kugara navo muhomwe here
They should go back home then
Sipho Khoza to do what ,u must go there u? If u go there yo mouth will shut
Veronica Mundandi they must go and farm. They have land mus.
Ndimwi mukuda kutopinzwa anhu fiye nezvisipo
dzokai tirime
Tauya Zimfarmer vota iwe ikoko taimbo vhota uchiri mudiki thats why uchifunga kuti zanu yaihwinha , kusaziva kuti vaingo dyiwa vachibirira remember mdc tsvangirai hapana kana election rayaka ita nezanu ,zanu ikahwinha kwangove kubira , saka ukavhota iwe chicha chinja chii? Chiwenga akati zanu haibviswe nevhoti , ita tikuone nekungwarira pasina kwako
Veronica Mundandi l m not zanu just a farmer
Tauya Zimfarmer saka unoda kuti tidzoke unozo tipa chii? Takabva ikoko nekuda kwako here? Usataure nyaya dzausinga kwani wazvinzwa gava iwe
Same as many Ndebele people face violence, discrimination in Zimbabwe 🤔🤔🤔
We are here because we probably faced worse at home. If your own cant treat you well what do u expect from a stranger?
Mkhululi Ndlovu What violence and discrimination?😂
Patience Rusere ohhh yes same in South Africa, what violence and discrimination 🤨?? You can’t see it in Zimbabwe because you are on the privileged side ( tribe ). But you can see it in South Africa because you get victimised because you can’t speak the local language but your own and that makes you target!!!
Mkhululi Ndlovu WHAT VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION IS OUR NDEBELE BROTHERS FACING IN ZIMBABWE ,FOOL??
Mkhululi Ndlovu fuck off tribalistic monkey..
Stanley Bond yes its always tribal when it touches home
Mkhululi Ndlovu we don’t really need to comfort you… You know the way home… I mean “home”
The best is not to stay in rural areas that side
Rowan Madzamba hona
M not a Zimbabwean unless I am forced to produce identity.
Nelson Muzimbawake 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Mbonisi Ndebele kunzima😆😂🤞
Kkkkk
Mzansi is 🔥
Stupidity uncivilized pple how relay on eating blood like hyenas , if a person is uneducated,he or she think if food is finished on the plate , the one who last take the food from the plate is the one who finished food , Zuma and Rhamaposa are the pple who destroyed SouthAfrican economy not Zimbabweans
Going back to Zim is a suicide staying is a suicide again …so I guess it’s survive of the fittest
S.A is not for the faith hearted..
I stand up and call warped minds to order
It’s kinda painful vakadzoka kuno heyo zanu pf haa ma1
Zimbabwean immigrants in SA live in fear of the unknown – study finding https://t.co/CRBvQi3itQ
Right now am surrounded by south Africans, they even bought me lunch.. they even buying all sorts of alcohol… am playing Macheso and Tongai moyo for them.. we are having a blast… u right when u say #SOME
Go back home, as simple as that, than being pests and scrounger in SA .