Anchoring the research in communities: PAR Experiences with farm workers in Musina, South Africa

By Blessing Mukuruva

Participatory Action Research (PAR), by its very nature, emphasises both participation and action by community members affected by the research. Rooted in community engagement, PAR seeks to understand the world by collaboratively working to change it. Motivated by the desire to disrupt cycles of gendered violence and poor mental health among migrants living in precarious conditions, our research group saw PAR as a critical tool in fulfilling this mandate. The GEMMS Research Group took the research directly to the communities. This was done through two PAR workshops conducted in Musina, a South African border town and one of the designated research sites under the GEMMS project.

The workshops were done at the Boy’s shelter, located in one of Musina’s township wards and the farms. Though not representative of the social, political dynamics in this border town, these locations could paint a picture what life of a migrant is in Musina. The journey from Musina to the farm PAR workshop provided a scenic transition from the urban bustle of Johannesburg, London, Mutare, Phnom Penh and Mumbai to the calm, semi arid savanna bushveld. A one-hour drive through mopane woodland, dotted with baobab trees, brought the team to one of the to one of the farms in Musina along the border with Zimbabwe.

This PAR session was held at the workers’ compound, under a large tree commonly used as a community assembly point. The session focused on mapping the healthcare and social services available to farmworkers. Participants were divided into groups and asked to create visual maps of the services they knew of and used.

The South African GEMMS team facilitated discussions around critical topics including: Where are critical health and social services located? How do they help the communities? What challenges do migrants face in accessing healthcare and government services on the maps? And finally, what actions or changes do participants wish to see that could improve the lives of migrants?

The interactive nature of PAR allowed GEMMS Global team members visiting from Cambodia, India, the UK, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to immerse themselves in the Musina farm context. The town, marked by diverse patterns of mobility ranging from daily to long-term movements, offered insights into how migration intersects with people’s lived realities. The sessions deepened the team’s contextual understanding of key concepts such as ‘mental health’, ‘migrant’, ‘violence’, and ‘gendered violence’ and the location of services in the area.

The mapping exercise revealed just how knowledgeable and resourceful communities are, true living encyclopedias. Residents shared that a mobile clinic visits once a month, providing care for minor ailments and chronic medication. However, there was strong interest in having a permanent clinic on-site to ensure uninterrupted care. They also reported having a community health worker who supports patients on chronic treatments such as ARVs. However, participants stressed the need for further training to enhance her capacity to manage a wider range of health conditions.

Situated near the Limpopo River, the natural border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, the farm community described both benefits and risks associated with the river. While it provides water and fish, it also poses threats such as flooding and crocodile attacks. Although a communal water source exists, residents expressed concerns about shared ablution facilities, advocating for household-based toilets to improve health outcomes.

Faith-based and traditional healthcare also play a significant role in the community, often accessed through a local church where different denominations rotate congregational use. One of the most revealing insights from the session was the community’s cross-border reliance on healthcare: many farmworkers reported using a clinic in a nearby Zimbabwean village, as it was easier to reach than the facilities in Musina.

These are just a few snapshots of the rich and complex insights that emerged from the PAR engagements. The day at the farm ended with a locally cooked lunch, during which GEMMS visitors were treated to mala (chicken intestines) and mahutwane (chicken feet) amongst others, a culinary experience reflecting local hospitality.
Through group discussions, visual diagrams on flip charts, and presentations, participants were empowered to co-design interventions addressing both long- and short-term community needs.

As the team travelled back to Musina along the border, the drive offered a powerful reminder of
the geographical and human ties that bind South Africa and Zimbabwe. These are communities
divided by a river and legislation, but united by shared struggles, histories, and humanity.

The blog image depicts: An image of the Limpopo River, looking towards Zimbabwe from
following engagement with migrant community in Musina, South Africa during GEMMS
research group field visit. Image taken by Jo Vearey for the photovoice exercise conducted for
GEMMS researchers (incl community researchers)

This research was funded by the NIHR (NIHR Global Health Research; grant nihr134629) using UK
aid from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed in this
publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK government.