Still serving the tea

Domestic workers in Zimbabwe 1980-90

Bibliographic Data

ID4933722
AuthorsJohn Pape (University of Johannesburg, corresponding author)
Year1993
Volume19
Issue3
Pages387-404
Publication date1993-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Southern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-7070 • E-ISSN: 1465-3893
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057079308708366
OpenAlexW2078120664
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited6

This article examines the effects of independence on domestic workers in Zimbabwe during the years 1980–1990. In this period the government took numerous steps to improve the conditions of domestic workers. Among the most important of these were the creation of a legalised system of labour relations and the support of the formation of a domestic workers’ union. Yet, despite these measures, changes in the Zimbabwean political economy minimised the effect of government policy. By 1990 inflation, unemployment, and lack of political interest in the domestic sector meant that many conditions similar to those of the colonial era were reappearing in household labour relations. However, whereas during the colonial era race was a major factor underlying household power relations, after 1980 class came to be the dominant force

Colonialism · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Labor relations · Labour economics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Unemployment · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Law

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