The Blessings and Blights of Trans-Human Mobility: Causes, Processes and Consequences of Migration to South Africa from Hossana Town

Abstract

Illegal migration to Republic of South Africa has become a common phenomenon among Hadiya ethnic groups of SNNPRS. As a result, this issue is critical and a persistent challenge for the zone administrative bodies in particular and the government of Ethiopia in general. This study was aimed at portraying the contributing factors, processes and consequences of migration to Republic of South Africa from Hadiya Zone, the case of Hossana Town. To achieve this objective, the study has employed qualitative research methods. Data collection methods such as in-depth interview, FGD, case study and key informant interviews were employed. The tools used to gather the primary information were semi-structured interview guidelines, FGDs guidelines, and key informant guidelines. To this end, a total of sixteen returned migrants, five cases, three key informants and two FGDs constituting eighteen participants were selected from three Kifileketemas of Hossana Town using purposive and snowball sampling technique. Thus, the data obtained from the study participants was analyzed using qualitative data analysis methods like using narrations. Accordingly, the findings of the study showed that search for better economic opportunities, unemployment and lack of job opportunities, pressure from family and people in one’s circle, brokers, explosion of population and land scarcity and histories associated with remittances were identified as push factors. While brokers’ promises, better job opportunities and existence of relatives and families in the destination county were some of major pull factors of migration. Migrants have faced various problems such as imprisonments, death, sufferings due to lack of basic necessities, physical damage, loss of properties and other many challenges in different transits places, during the journey made to reach the destination country and in the destination country as well. Moreover, an attempt was also made in order to find out positive and abusive consequences of migration on the migrants and community at large. Consequently, the findings of the study revealed that improved economic status, job opportunities and combating unemployment, gaining some positive experiences and savings as positive consequences of migration. Whereas, losing of productive forces, income inequality among the people, psychological traumas among some deported migrants, newly introduced values like alcoholic behaviors, dependency on remittance and school dropout were identified as identified as abusive consequences of migration in the study area. Hence, it requires joint efforts of all concerned bodies with regards to changing the attitudes of the community, undertaking comprehensive researches and taking appropriate policy measures concerning root causes.