The role of remittances in supporting families and households across borders is well-documented, but the recent shift towards digital platforms for sending both cash and non-cash items like food has been especially significant during the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog post dives into the findings of a study focused on Zimbabwean migrants living in Cape Town, South Africa, and their use of emerging digital technologies for remitting food back home to Zimbabwe. The shift towards mobile and digital remittances reflects a broader transformation in how migrants support their families, with both opportunities and challenges emerging in this new landscape.
The Importance of Remittances for Zimbabwean Households
Zimbabwe has long faced economic instability, with hyperinflation, food insecurity, and widespread unemployment defining the daily reality for many families. Migrants, especially those in South Africa, have become lifelines for their families back home, regularly sending money and food to support them. According to the study, Zimbabweans in Cape Town remitted both cash and food items as essential resources for their families in Zimbabwe, a country where food shortages and price hikes have worsened over the years.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, informal networks like cross-border traders or transport couriers, known locally as “malayishas,” were a primary channel for remitting food. However, with border closures and movement restrictions during the pandemic, informal networks were disrupted, leading many Zimbabwean migrants to adopt new digital methods (including contactless transactions that could be completed remotely without face-to-face interaction) for sending food.
Digital Remittance Channels: A Shift During COVID-19
The pandemic has driven significant changes in how Zimbabwean migrants send food remittances. With the onset of COVID-19, lockdowns, and strict mobility restrictions, traditional remittance channels, such as using buses or informal couriers, became inaccessible. To address these challenges, many migrants turned to digital platforms.
Apps such as Mukuru and Malaicha.com have emerged as key platforms for sending groceries directly to families in Zimbabwe, leveraging mobile technology to enable migrants to bypass physical transport channels. These services allow users to purchase and send food items through online platforms, which are then delivered to recipients in Zimbabwe. Digital remittance service providers are increasingly partnering with local businesses, including producers, retailers, distributors, and delivery services. As a result, beneficiaries of food remittances can often collect locally produced or sourced food. Therefore, digital remittance platforms can support local businesses while providing speedy, reliable services and convenient access to essential food items and groceries. According to the study, nearly 48% of respondents began using digital platforms like these during the pandemic, highlighting the growing importance of technology in facilitating cross-border support.
As one Zimbabwean migrant noted, “I was using buses to send groceries before, but because the pandemic caused the border to close, I decided to use the Malaicha and Mukuru services on my phone.” This shift has been crucial for ensuring that families back home can access food even during times of crisis.
Motivations for Sending Food Remittances
The study reveals that the motivations for sending food remittances are largely tied to the dire food situation in Zimbabwe. Nearly half (43%) of the participants reported sending food in response to requests from family members. One-third (33%) of the participants transferred food because of high food prices or a short supply of food items. The food crisis in Zimbabwe has been exacerbated by hyperinflation, making basic food items prohibitively expensive for many households. Migrants thus send food not only to fulfill urgent requests but also because many essential items are unavailable or unaffordable in Zimbabwe.
Another 24% of participants mentioned food insecurity as the primary reason for remitting food. These findings underscore how remittances have become a crucial coping strategy for families navigating Zimbabwe’s prolonged economic crisis. As one participant put it, “I am influenced by the shortages in Zimbabwe… my family communicates with me when they have run out of basics.”
What Food Items Are Being Sent?
The study also explored the types of food items that Zimbabwean migrants send to their families. The most commonly remitted items include cooking oil, rice, sugar, mealie-meal, and beans. Other essential items such as peanut butter, meat, flour, and vegetables were also frequently sent. These staples reflect the basic needs of Zimbabwean households, where food shortages and high prices make it difficult for families to access these goods locally. The variety of items sent also highlights the importance of food remittances in maintaining household food security in Zimbabwe.
Social Media as a Tool for Remittance Decisions
Interestingly, the study found that social media platforms played an important role in helping Zimbabwean migrants navigate the food remittance process. Platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook were used to share information about the best channels for sending food, the types of food to remit, and updates on food shortages in Zimbabwe.
About 69% of participants acknowledged using social media to make informed decisions on food remittances, especially during the pandemic. These online networks have become vital in connecting migrants to trusted remittance channels and services, allowing them to make timely decisions based on real-time information shared by their peers.
Challenges with Digital Remittance Platforms
While digital platforms have revolutionized food remittances, they are not without challenges. Some participants in the study reported issues with delivery delays, out-of-stock items, and substitution of products. As one migrant explained, “Sometimes I buy groceries online, but when my family wants to collect the goods, they are told that those items are out of stock, or they get substitutes that are not of the same quality.”
High transaction costs and registration requirements also pose barriers, particularly for undocumented migrants who may lack the necessary documentation to use formal digital remittance channels. Other challenges are access-related constraints such as poor access to smartphones, mobile devices, mobile data, the internet, and online platforms. While digital platforms offer convenience and security, these limitations highlight the need for continued improvements in accessibility and affordability.
Informal Channels Still in Use
Despite the growing reliance on digital platforms, informal channels such as malayishas have not disappeared entirely. One-third of participants still used informal transport couriers to send food remittances, and some even resorted to more unconventional methods, such as using funeral companies’ repatriation services to send goods during the early stages of the pandemic.
These findings suggest that while digital technologies offer a promising alternative, informal networks remain an essential part of the remittance landscape for many migrants, particularly those facing documentation challenges or preferring more personalized services.
The Future of Food Remittances
The use of digital and mobile technologies to remit food has undoubtedly grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a quick, dependable, secure and convenient way for Zimbabwean migrants to support their families back home. However, as Zimbabwe continues to face economic and food crises, remittances—both digital and informal—will remain a critical lifeline for households struggling to survive.
Looking ahead, the continued development of accessible, low-cost digital platforms, coupled with the resilience of informal networks, will shape the future of cross-border remittances in Southern Africa. For many Zimbabwean migrants, ensuring their families’ food security will continue to be a top priority, driving further innovation and adaptation in the remittance landscape.
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