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Borders, Borderlands and Borderlanders

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Lived Experiences of Borderland Communities in Zimbabwe

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

Abstract

This chapter sets out the analytical and thematic context for the ensuing chapters in this volume on the lived experiences of borderland communities in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe borders five countries in Southern Africa, and the lives and livelihoods of borderland communities (or borderlanders) are central to understanding past and present Zimbabwe. The national borders of Zimbabwe, like all borders, do not fix territorial space in a static and complete way, and the regular cross-border movement of borderlanders demonstrates the porosity of its borders. At the same time, the borders and borderlands of Zimbabwe and the lives of borderlanders are variegated across space and time, and hence the importance of the specific case studies in this volume in illustrating the diverse and dynamic practices existing in Zimbabwe’s borderlands. This volume contributes to the increasing recognition that national borders, as processes, are configured in part through the ongoing practices of borderlanders and, further, that viewing the nation-state ‘from the margins’ offers fresh perspectives on Zimbabwean history and society. The various contributions to this volume, including themes on livelihoods, conservation, war and Covid-19, bring this to the fore.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Joshua Matanzima

  2. Department of Sociology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Kirk Helliker

  3. Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Nedson Pophiwa

Authors
  1. Joshua Matanzima
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  2. Kirk Helliker
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  3. Nedson Pophiwa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joshua Matanzima .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Nedson Pophiwa

  2. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Joshua Matanzima

  3. Department of Sociology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Kirk Helliker

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Matanzima, J., Helliker, K., Pophiwa, N. (2023). Borders, Borderlands and Borderlanders. In: Pophiwa, N., Matanzima, J., Helliker, K. (eds) Lived Experiences of Borderland Communities in Zimbabwe. Springer Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32195-5_1

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