New survey findings reveal a nuanced public mood in Zambia toward migration: citizens strongly support the idea of free movement within Southern Africa, yet many also want fewer foreign workers and refugees entering their own borders. The picture is one of a country balancing regional solidarity with domestic economic pressures; and negotiating its own aspirations to seek opportunities abroad.
According to a recent survey, 62% of Zambians believe people in the region should be able to move freely to trade or work across borders. This vision aligns with Zambia’s long-standing role as a regional crossroads and its official policies under the National Migration Policy, which emphasizes economic growth, social cohesion, and protection for those fleeing conflict.
But this broad support for mobility coexists with a more cautious national sentiment. About one-third of citizens (35%) think government should strictly manage cross-border flows of people and goods. In practice, more than half (57%) report that crossing borders is already difficult or very difficult, underscoring frustrations with bureaucratic barriers and uneven regional harmonization.
Despite their openness to regional movement, fewer than half of Zambians (45%) believe immigrants have a positive economic impact on the country. This tension reflects everyday realities: while migrants contribute through business creation, skills transfer and tax revenues, many citizens worry about job competition and pressure on public services, which are concerns amplified during periods of economic hardship.
Socially, Zambians remain welcoming in principle. Seven in 10 citizens (71%) say they would like or wouldn’t mind having foreign workers as neighbours, and more than half say the same about refugees. Yet when it comes to policy, over three-fourths want the government to reduce or even halt the inflow of foreign job seekers (57% favour reductions; 23% support a complete stop). A similar majority would prefer fewer refugees entering the country.
This contrast between personal tolerance and political caution speaks to wider regional debates: how can countries remain open and humane while still meeting citizens’ expectations for economic security?
Strikingly, the desire for movement isn’t only directed inward. About one in four citizens (27%) have considered leaving Zambia, mostly for economic reasons. Those most likely to contemplate migration are people with post-secondary education (57%), urban dwellers (41%), full-time workers (37%), and the youth (34%).
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