Paper long abstract:

Since 1985 four major surveys have been undertaken in Harare which have uncovered major shifts in in-migrants’ attitudes towards the city and increasing vulnerability in their livelihoods. In 2001 one of the surveys investigated in detail recent in-migrants’ perceptions of living in the city. This paper will discuss the results from these elements of the survey and the ways in which gender and age influenced the migrants’ views. While the cost-of-living was the overwhelming problem for women, men, and particularly younger men without direct household responsibilities, proffered a more diverse set of advantages and disadvantages