Aliens and AIDS in Southern Africa: The Malawi-South Africa Debate

This paper discusses the politics of HIV/AIDS in relation to the operation of the system of oscillating labour migration in the southern African region. The focus is on the repatriation of some 13,000 Malawian migrant workers from South Africa between 1988 and 1992 on account of fears that they would be spreading HIV/AIDS in that country. Strong arm tactics were employed in the repatriation of the Malawian workers, causing heated debates between the South African Chamber of Mines and the Malawi government, and the latter and its repatriated citizens. Within South Africa itself, opinion was divided. The Chamber wanted to keep its Malawian workers for their skills, work discipline and lack of militancy. Some white conservative elements in the government demanded repatriation. They based their arguments on issues of public health, emphasizing the risks foreign workers posed to the local communities. The paper suggests that HIV/AIDS was used as a smoke screen. The repatriation occurred at a time when the South African mining industry was going through a period of crisis which necessitated massive retrenchment of workers, and especially foreigners. Desultory migrants were replaced by career miners and there was a shift towards the recruitment of local workers. Malawi was no longer an important source of labour for the industry. Notes, ref., sum.