Episode 6 – Dr. Khanyile Joseph Mlotshwa: «We are there to work and develop back home, so that those who come after us have access to a better life.»

Migration is often discussed as a movement toward Europe. But what does migration look like within Africa itself, and what does freedom mean for those who cross borders in search of work, safety, and dignity?In this episode, Wolfram Eilenberger speaks with Khanyile, a journalist, migration scholar, and Early Career Fellow at the St. Gallen Collegium, about Zimbabwean migration to South Africa and the broader political realities of mobility on the African continent.Drawing on his own experience as a migrant scholar and on extensive fieldwork in Johannesburg, Khanyile explains how migration from Zimbabwe has deep historical roots, stretching back to the colonial labor system of the late nineteenth century. Economic collapse, political repression, and limited opportunities have intensified these movements, while South Africa’s comparatively stronger economy continues to attract migrants seeking what many describe simply as a better life.A central theme of the conversation is the meaning of freedom. For many migrants, freedom is not primarily an abstract political ideal but the practical ability to work, support family members, access healthcare, and build a future.The episode also explores the uncomfortable topic of xenophobia within Africa and discusses how African migrants in South Africa are often stereotyped as job-takers, criminals, or competitors for relationships, despite evidence that citizens commit most crimes. Khanyile argues that these patterns of “othering” resemble anti-immigrant discourses found across the world.Beyond migration, the conversation turns to the African philosophy of Ubuntu — the idea that a person exists through their relationships with others. Khanyile reflects on both the appeal and the limits of Ubuntu, emphasizing that concern for community is not uniquely African but a broader human phenomenon.The episode offers a nuanced perspective on migration that moves beyond headlines and statistics, asking how borders, economies, and everyday experiences shape the human search for freedom.Dr. Khanyile Joseph Mlotshwa is a journalist and migration scholar from Zimbabwe. He completed his master’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies in South Africa and is currently pursuing research on migration, freedom, and discourse analysis. As an Early Career Fellow at the St. Gallen Collegium, his work examines how migrants narrate their experiences and aspirations under conditions of inequality, border control, and economic uncertainty.