In this chapter, I use autoethnography to reflect on my experiences as an early career researcher navigating the complex socio-economic and political landscapes of Zimbabwe and South Africa. The chapter discusses how factors like inadequate research funding, political interference, and unequal partnerships between the Global South and Global North constrain early to mid-career researchers in these countries. The specific challenges like high competition for grants and the increasing erosion of research integrity, which researchers in the Global North face, are well known. The reflections in this chapter offer unique insight into the specific opportunities and challenges that early to mid-researchers face in the Global South, specifically in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Major factors that constrain them are the low budget allocation and the fact that Zimbabwe has not institutionalised its research: it depends on funding from international donors. In contrast, South Africa leads research output in Africa. It must, however, be admitted that it does not compare well with the average global research output. The use of autoethnography for this study offers an insider perspective which can capture the socio-economic and political context of South Africa and Zimbabwe. The chapter recommends that stakeholders, especially in countries like Zimbabwe, institutionalise research and significantly increase funding allocation for research to a level that could create a more supportive research environment.