ANALYSIS | Zimbabwean teachers in South Africa

I first encountered a Zimbabwean teacher, Mr Chinganga, at Sefoloko Secondary School when i was doing Grade 8. Gone are those days when Sefoloko was still under the leadership of Principal Hamese, may his soul rest in peace. Moshabi!!

Mr Chinganga and many Zimbabwean migrant teachers left their country when the economy was collapsing and their salaries were no longer enough to meet their basic needs of life. They came to South Africa with an understanding that the economy is good and strong and its currency was stable.

Indeed when they came to South Africa they managed to economically uplift themselves and could afford the basic things that they couldn't afford back home in Zimbabwe. This restored their dignity as they could even afford to send money to their families in Zimbabwe. Some even bought cars and were basically living a decent life. They were happy to be in South Africa although they still believed that "home is best" and there is simply no substitute for it.

However, the rising incidents of crime, hostility and xenophobia created fear among the migrant teachers in South Africa. They felt unsafe and stopped going to certain places because they were afraid they could easily be identified as foreigners. Many of them endured insults and harassment as they were being accused of despising South Africans by communicating in English. They stopped going to certain places where they may have to use English as that easily identified them as foreigners.

In some schools the migrant teachers were called names and disrespected by both schoolchildren and local teachers. Consequently the Zimbabwean teachers felt worthless because they were just working to get money and were no longer enjoying their jobs. Outside work they suffered harassment by the police and were basically deprived of social freedom.

However, in spite of these trying times and fears, the migrant teachers stayed on because they found themselves at a crossroad - Going back to Zimbabwe was not an option. Staying on at their jobs and enduring the painful experience of being disrespected by young children and ill-treated by employers was the only alternative. They were stuck and/or trapped in a garden of greener pastures.

Up to this day, Migrant teachers and other proffesionals in different sectors still feel unsafe working in South Africa. The pertinent question is, how can the narrative about migrants in South Africa be changed?. Think about it.

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Innocent Moyo, Melania Nicolao Trapped in a Garden of Greener Pastures: The Experiences of Zimbabwean 2014.