Migrant Labour and Foreign Policy: The Case of Mozambique

The article discusses male labour migration from Mozambique to the mines of South Africa in a historical per spective. This migration has been and remains one of the most significant economic and social relationships be tween South Africa and Mozambique. Historically it has contributed significantly to making Mozambique a de pendent country. It has also been one of the major ingredients in the regional conflict in Southern Africa. At the time of independence, Frelimo was faced with a strategic dilemma: on the one hand, its political willingness to disengage from South Africa, on the other hand its dependence on the export of labour. This dilemma influences the development strategy of Frelimo in a broad sense. The deep social and economic effects of male migration on Mozambican society restrict the possibilities for implementing Frelimo's strategy. However, the very general stra tegy, especially concerning the agricultural sector, is not well suited to meet the distinct structural barriers that the labour migration has created in the agricultural economy. Moreover, the so-called Nkomati accord between South Africa and Mozambique (1984) may change the whole scenario, both for the conflict between South Africa and the surrounding countries and for Frelimo's socialist project.