Borders, Borderlands and Borderlanders

This chapter sets out the analytical and thematic context for the ensuing chapters in this volume on the lived experiences of borderland communities in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe borders five countries in Southern Africa, and the lives and livelihoods of borderland communities (or borderlanders) are central to understanding past and present Zimbabwe. The national borders of Zimbabwe, like all borders, do not fix territorial space in a static and complete way, and the regular cross-border movement of borderlanders demonstrates the porosity of its borders. At the same time, the borders and borderlands of Zimbabwe and the lives of borderlanders are variegated across space and time, and hence the importance of the specific case studies in this volume in illustrating the diverse and dynamic practices existing in Zimbabwe’s borderlands. This volume contributes to the increasing recognition that national borders, as processes, are configured in part through the ongoing practices of borderlanders and, further, that viewing the nation-state ‘from the margins’ offers fresh perspectives on Zimbabwean history and society. The various contributions to this volume, including themes on livelihoods, conservation, war and Covid-19, bring this to the fore.