Privatization of State Owned Enterprises: An Analysis of Impact on Regional Migration Patterns in Zambia Between 1990-2000

Abstract: Throughout history, migration has been an ongoing phenomenon driven by various factors ranging from social, political, economic and environmental situations. Zambia is not immune to migration and has seen a considerable share of its population engage in both internal and external migratory activities. Recognising the important role that migration plays in any economy and how it is influenced by circumstances prevailing at different points in time, this thesis seeks to analyse migration flows between Zambia's regions and the impact that privatisation of state owned enterprises had on migration patterns between 1990 and 2000. Because of challenges in gathering statistics to conduct a thorough quantitative analysis, the study employs a descriptive methodology using statistics collected from the Central Statistics Office online data catalogue and institutions such as the World Bank. The statistics are organised, calculated and analysed using Microsoft Excel and GIS Arcmap. The results indicate that soon after privatisation began in 1991, there was a sharp reduction in employment figures and a reduction in the proportion of urban population. The proportion of rural destined migrants was 2.3 times higher than that of urban destined migrants during the period of privatisation, an indication that people were leaving urban areas for rural areas. Return migration also rose, however, the country experienced both urbanisation and counter urbanisation during the period 1990-2000. Findings of this study show similarities to Beauchemin & Schoumaker's (2006) findings in Burkina Faso were changes in migration patterns were observed after the economy underwent structural change in the 1980's.