Dr Tamuka Chekero, one of our postdoctoral researchers affiliated with the Operationalising Just Transition in Africa (OJTA) project, participated in the Neuchâtel Graduate Conference on Migration and Mobility Studies held from July 11 to 12, 2024, at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The conference, organized by the nccr – on the move, Swiss National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR), is an esteemed international forum that facilitates the exchange of ideas, networking, and collaborative research among PhD and postdoctoral researchers from various institutions.

The 7th edition of the Neuchâtel Graduate Conference, themed "Navigating Turbulences: Interdisciplinary Inquiries into the Transformations of Migration and Mobility in the 21st Century," provided a platform for scholarly engagement through formal and informal interactions. Dr. Chekero presented his research titled "Navigating Passports and Borders: The Complex Realities of Zimbabwean Migrants in South Africa." This study critically examines the extensive impacts of passport-related issues on the daily lives and well-being of Zimbabwean migrants.

Dr Chekero’s research reveals how the complexities surrounding passport regulations influence migrants’ efforts to secure a better life in South Africa. The study identifies the socio-political dynamics affecting passport experiences and highlights the barriers to improving quality of life. Migrants often employ "Nimble-footed strategies," such as using temporary stamps, to navigate their precarious situations. However, these adaptive strategies simultaneously expose them to exploitation and inadequate state protection.

The study contributes to understanding contemporary migration challenges within the context of global crises, particularly the intensified regulations and restrictions in the post-COVID-19 era. It sheds light on the broader implications of border militarisation and the contraction of migrants’ rights and well-being.

Discussions at the conference also touched on how issues related to Just Transition, climate change, and energy policies may further exacerbate these challenges, influencing the militarisation of borders and affecting the rights of migrants, minorities, women, and other vulnerable mobile populations.

Rapid shifts to renewable energy, while essential for environmental sustainability, may result in significant economic disruptions, particularly in regions heavily reliant on fossil fuel industries, potentially driving migration as affected workers seek new opportunities. Additionally, if the benefits of a just transition are not equitably distributed, it may lead to increased social tensions and conflicts.

Climate change further compounds these issues by causing environmental displacement through extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and desertification, which force people to migrate and intensify migration pressures. Resource scarcity, driven by competition for diminishing resources such as water and arable land, can also spark conflicts and drive migration.

In the context of energy and migration, large-scale energy infrastructure projects often require land acquisition, resulting in displacement and conflicts with local communities, while disparities in energy access can exacerbate existing inequalities and incentivize migration.

Furthermore, the militarisation and contraction of borders may be fueled by resource nationalism, where competition for critical minerals and energy resources leads to nationalism and protectionist policies, including stricter border controls. Security concerns arising from climate-induced disasters and resource scarcity may prompt increased militarisation and border enforcement, and large-scale migration driven by climate change or economic disruptions may be perceived as destabilising, leading to even stricter border controls and heightened militarisation.