Return migration and development in rural communities: The case of Nzega and Magu districts, Tanzania

Abstract

This study examines the effects of both internal and cross-border re-migration on rural development in Tanzania mainland. Four rural communities drawn from Nzega and Magu districts were selected based on a high magnitude of rural-to-urban and cross-border labour migration; and distance from the district headquarters. 648 re-migrants were sampled from the four communities. The theoretical framework applied in this study is a structural approach to re-migration. The analysis draws on data collected by using a descriptive cross-sectional design, adopting a mixed methods approach and a Probit regression technique used to estimate the effects of total domestic and overseas savings on various expenditure categories. Results confirm the overall hypothesis that return migration has an influence on rural development in the study areas. The study recommends for policy makers to improve the resource capacity of current migrants and their beneficiaries by stimulating rural economies through rural enterprise activities.