Take a step with refugees

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

THIS year’s commemoration of World Refugee Day, which was held on 4 July 2019 at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge and celebrated under the theme “Take a Step with Refugees,” united refugees and asylum seekers from various nations. The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable Lovemore Matuke, as guest of honour.

It was revealed that the camp has managed to achieve the provision of decent shelter to persons of concern, water and sanitation, peaceful coexistence of refugees and the host communities, synergies with the corporate world, provision of education to refugee children, self-reliance and livelihoods projects, and timely response to the effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai.

However, human-wildlife conflict was cited as one of the main challenges affecting the safe stay of refugees. Camp Administrator Mr Johane Mhlanga said, “Stray animals from Save Valley Conservancy wreak havoc in the camp. Elephants are a menace to the irrigation projects, especially the banana plantation. In addition, the water pump station has not been spared as well by the marauding animals. These wild animals sometimes stray into the camp, thereby creating insecurity for the persons of concern.”

Mr Mhlanga gave recommendations to address the conflict. “There is need to fence off the [Save Valley] Conservancy so that the refugees would be protected and increase their sense of security. There is also need for lighting around the camp, which can help deter wild animals from breaking into the camp,” he added.

Tongogara Refugee Camp is home to 13,009 refugees and asylum seekers, of which 74.5 percent are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 12.02 percent are from Mozambique, 6.3 percent are from Burundi, 4.9 percent are from Rwanda, and 2.28 percent are from smaller communities.