Guro Lauvland Bjorknes.pdf - NMMU

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
This chapter presents the literature that has been consulted for the undertaken study which is
coping strategies among female Zimbabwean refugees at the Central Methodist Church in
Johannesburg: a conflict management perspective. The research title suggests an exploration of
four concepts, namely „Zimbabwe‟, „refugees‟, „Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg‟ and
„conflict management‟. Definitions are provided where appropriate and investigations into the
concepts relevant to the undertaken study are outlined.
The following chapter is divided into four sections. Section 1 will give an overview of the
history of Zimbabwe. There have been several events in the history of the country which may be
seen as a trigger of the escalation of conflict that still rages in Zimbabwe today and which has led
to a massive exodus from Zimbabwe. Neuman (2006:158) stresses the importance of
recognising the past and present context of what is being studied to sustain information
authentically which is revealed in the research process. Before embarking on the description of
the CMC and the refugee community of Zimbabweans staying there, Section 2 will deal with a
definition of refugees and a definition of refugees relevant for this treatise. It will also give an
outline of urban refugees, refugee women, the difficulties refugees face and coping strategies,
and refugee settings in general as well as in South Africa. Section 3 will describe the
Zimbabwean migrants, where they settle in South Africa and the refugee setting in the CMC in
Johannesburg, South Africa. Section 4 is concerned with theories of conflict and outlines
conflict theory relevant for the study undertaken.
2.2 Historical context of the Zimbabwean refugee
2.2.1 Colonial History
Zimbabweans are the descendants of the San people, a theory supported by evidence found in
the area of Stone Age culture that can be dated back 100 000 years (Hill, 2003:15). The Shona-
speaking Bantu tribe lived in the area between the 10 th and 11 th centuries and the San were
chased away or killed. The Shona were in control of the area until the Zulu chief, Mzilikazi,
8