The complex relationship between food insecurity and migration has long been a defining feature of Sub-Saharan Africa. In the case of Northern Malawi, food insecurity is emerging as one of the primary drivers of irregular labour migration to South Africa. Historically, Malawi has been a significant source of labour migrants, but the nature of migration has shifted dramatically over the years. Where Malawian men once moved under formal contracts to work in South African mines, today’s migration is largely informal and increasingly includes both men and women.
Drawing from research conducted in the northern Malawian city of Mzuzu, this blog post explores how food insecurity, migration, and labour intersect in this region. Through the voices of migrants and their families, we trace how food insecurity is a powerful force pushing people to leave home in search of better opportunities. We also examine the struggles migrants face in ensuring their own food security while in transit and after arriving in South Africa.
A Changing Landscape of Migration
Malawian migration to South Africa is deeply rooted, dating back to the late 19th century. For decades, the mines of South Africa offered steady employment for Malawian men, providing wages that could support families back home. However, the 1970s saw a significant disruption in contract-based migration, and by the 1990s, migration patterns had shifted entirely. No longer confined to the mines, Malawians—now including women—began migrating informally to work in a wide range of sectors, including domestic work, farming, construction, and transportation.
Today, irregular migration dominates, with migrants navigating dangerous and often illegal pathways to South Africa. While the allure of higher wages remains, food insecurity has become a critical factor driving this migration. For many families in Mzuzu, the ability to purchase food or invest in agriculture is becoming increasingly dependent on remittances sent from family members working abroad.
Food Insecurity as a Catalyst for Migration
Food insecurity is one of the most pressing challenges facing households in Northern Malawi. A recent survey in Mzuzu found that nearly half of all households in the city were severely food insecure. This situation is even more dire in the city’s informal settlements, where access to food and resources is scarce. In response, many families see migration as a strategy for survival.
Several migrants and their families shared their experiences of food insecurity and how it influenced their decisions to migrate. One woman, whose husband now works in South Africa, explained the challenge simply: “We didn’t have enough food to feed the whole family.” Similarly, a migrant recalled going two days without food, prompting him to leave for South Africa in search of work.
Migration decisions are not made lightly. They are usually the result of extended family discussions, with the understanding that the migrant’s primary obligation will be to remit money home to help feed the family. In addition to supporting daily food needs, remittances are often used to buy agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizer, which is essential for improving crop yields.
The Journey to South Africa: Risks and Obstacles
For many Malawians, the journey to South Africa is fraught with risks. Migrants often travel without proper documentation, relying on smugglers or corrupt officials to help them cross borders. Many are forced to pay bribes at various checkpoints, depleting their already limited resources. A migrant described having to pay 50 Rand at every border post, leaving him with no money for food during the three-day journey to South Africa.
Women migrants face additional risks, including the threat of abduction and sexual violence. As one female migrant recounted, women are sometimes kidnapped upon crossing the border and held for ransom. Those who cannot pay are often brutalized. Despite these dangers, migrants continue to make the journey, driven by the hope of securing a better future for their families.
Life in South Africa: Precarity and Food Insecurity
The challenges don’t end once migrants reach South Africa. Finding work is difficult, and competition for jobs is fierce, particularly as migrants from other African countries—such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia—also seek employment. Many Malawian migrants take on piece work, often waiting for hours at traffic lights in hopes of being hired for the day.
Even when migrants do find work, the wages are often low, and the cost of living in South Africa is high. Migrants must balance their own expenses, such as food and rent, with the obligation to send money home. For many, this results in a hand-to-mouth existence. One migrant described how his income barely covered his expenses: “I was really struggling. I had more things to do than I was earning.”
Living in constant fear of being arrested and deported is another reality for irregular migrants. Deportation is a common risk, and once deported, migrants are banned from returning to South Africa for up to five years. Yet many deportees manage to re-enter the country using forged documents or by bribing officials at the border.
Remittances: A Lifeline for Families
Despite the many challenges, remittances remain a lifeline for families in Mzuzu. Migrants typically send money every two to three months, which families use to buy food, pay school fees, or invest in agricultural inputs like fertilizer. In-kind remittances are also common, with migrants sending cooking oil, sugar, and other essentials during the festive season.
For families that receive regular remittances, the impact on food security is significant. One father explained how his son’s remittances had transformed their family’s diet: “First we didn’t have breakfast and rice. But now we do breakfast and also eat rice for breakfast every day.” Another family, which had sent a second member to South Africa, reported being able to buy land and build a house using remittance money.
However, not all families are so fortunate. Some migrants, especially those who struggle to find steady work, are unable to send regular support. One woman described how her son’s failure to remit money had left her with unpaid debts and food shortages.
The Uncertain Future of Malawian Migrants
The story of migration from Northern Malawi to South Africa is one of both hope and hardship. For many families, migration offers a way to escape the grip of food insecurity and build a better future. Yet the journey is fraught with dangers, and life in South Africa is precarious, especially for irregular migrants.
Food insecurity remains a central driver of migration, with many households relying on remittances to meet their daily needs. However, the challenges faced by migrants in South Africa—low wages, job insecurity, and the constant threat of deportation—mean that not all are able to fulfill their family’s expectations.
As food insecurity continues to worsen in Malawi, the pressure on families to send members abroad will likely increase. However, without more support for safe and legal migration pathways, Malawian migrants will continue to face significant risks in their pursuit of a more secure future.
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