Refugees Influx in Tongogara and Community Security in Chipinge District

1.0 Background
People movement has forever been part of humanity since time immemorial. Global Trend
(2016) recorded 65.6 million people to have been forcibly displaced, 22.5 million registered
refugees, 10 Million stateless people and 189 300 resettled refugees globally. Wallenstein
(2002) broadly categorise the influence of people migration under the push and pull factor
banners. IASFM (2012) defines forced migration as the transnational or internal
displacement of people either by conflict, environmental and natural phenomenon. Stein
(1981) further pointed out that forced migrants have distinctive experience and distinctive
needs. The interrelatedness of socio-political economic and ecological pressures from places
of origin will have interlinked impact on the same factors to the host communities.

1.1 Zimbabwe’s commitment to refugees

Zimbabwe prescribes to the 1951 UN’s convection on refugees as well as its Protocol of
1967. It also subscribes to the 1969 OAU convection on refugees. The management of
refugees in Zimbabwe is governed by the Act of Parliament, Refugees Act Chapter 4.03. The
Act was established in response to the increased scourge of external displacement from a
number of neighbouring states. The conventions and statutes largely emphasise on the
refugee protection with little attention to the security implications of host communities.
Although Mwaba (1990) argues that Zimbabwe’s laws on refugees emphasise on control and
movement restrictions on refugees, asylum seekers still considered Zimbabwe a safe zone for
human security.

Zimbabweans once suffered from ripple effects of the liberation struggle that did force many
out of the country seeking refuge and settled in different countries. They were accepted under
the UN’s 1951 non re-foulment principle which asserts that refugees should not be returned
to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. Post independence
Zimbabwe reciprocated the positive gesture by establishment of 5 refugee centres namely
Tongogara, Chambuta, Nyamatikiti, Mazowe, and Nyangombe refugee centres. The reason
for the establishment was to house Mozambicans whose country was ravaged by civil war,
though presently, all except for Tongogara refugee centre were closed soon after the 1992
Rome Peace Agreement which brought stability to Mozambique.
Chipinge district is Manicaland Province east of Zimbabwe. The district is 500 km South
East of Harare and Tongogara refugee camp is within the southern periphery of this district. It
was established in 1982 mainly to house Mozambique asylum seekers displaced during the
1975-1992 civil war. The centre was temporarily closed in 1995 but reopened in 1998 to
accommodate increased asylum seekers from the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa.
UNHCR as at 5 May 2017 had a total of 8 982 refugees within the facility. Of the total, DRC
nationals constituted 74%, that is 6 713, Mozambicans 9%, Rwanda 6.2%, Burundi 7%.
Other nationals within the centre are Malians 45 individuals, Somalis (12), Ivory Coast (14)
Ethiopians (38), Eritreans (9), Sudanese (4), Syrians (2), and Kenyans (8). The daily
interaction of refugees and the Chipinge community has developed rather a complex
relationship which is both beneficial and threatening to the well being of the Chipinge
community. For co-existence, forcibly or willingly, there is need to establish the foundations
of relationships and dynamics within them, so as to have sustainable peace.

Refugees arguably threaten the social, economic, political and ecological fabrics of host
communities at the same time contribute positively to the development of these communities
within the aforementioned spheres. Refugees have created employment, provided casual and
specialised labour, widen the market for local products and contributed immensely to the
development of the host community. Chipinge urban just like Harare, has been invaded by
several mini grocery shops known as matuckshops. Commuter operators such as God Given,
Issa Tours, and Pacific Tours among many are owned by Somali and DRC nationals
respectively. However, they have also been blamed for money laundering, drug peddling,
spread of diseases, human trafficking and budgetary constrain on the provision of public
goods. Competition for market space has at times resulted conflicts as was the case in South
Africa’s xenophobia attacks. Politically, refugee centres have become rendezvous points for
terrorist, political and criminal groups. Kenya, Gairisa University and Westgate Mall attack
of 2014 and 2012 was links to Somali refugees from Gairisa Refugee camp, hence fuelled
more debate on refugees and community security.

Socially refugees have brought in diversity on food types, food preservation, hence
strengthen food security within host communities. Refugees mostly portray social skills
enhanced through social cohesion, problem sharing and solving, a positive aspect if
assimilated by community. Marriages have been arranged to facilitate their stay as well as
access privileges meant for locals; blame for persistent drought has been on the foreigners
buried in their area. NGOs have complimented the government efforts in providing for
refugees and whenever assistance is availed to refugees, the host community benefits. Health
and educational facilities established within a refugee centres indirectly benefit the host
community as well. However due to donor fatigue, governments has failed to avail social
services to both citizens and refugees. Refugees upset the social order as they exert pressure
on already scarce resources, inadequate to cater the needs of the host community.

1.3 Problem statement

Zimbabwe, a signatory to international convections on refugees and the custodian of
Zimbabwe Refugees Act, is obliged to receive and accommodate refugees where necessary.
Because of these ratifications, Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an increased influx of
asylum seekers from war torn Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa, recording 249.5%
increase from 3 600 in 2009 to 8 982 asylum seekers in 2016 (UNHCR 2016). Consequently,
the influx has threatened the socio-economic, political and ecological order of Chipinge
District. With a 97% funding deficit (UNHCR 2017), refugees in Chipinge District now
compete with locals for social services, public goods, economics space. Religious and
cultural conflicts have emerged, with potential of degenerating to xenophobia and terrorist
attacks, targeted assassination. UNHCR and WFP Joint Assessment Mission Report (2014)
highlighted refugees’ over reliance on firewood as a cause of land degradation and threats to
wild life in Gonarezhou. Prostitution and spread of diseases in the district has also been noted
with concern. It is against this background that the researcher seeks to explore and bring to
the fore, the implications of refugees on community security.

1.4 Purpose of study

Refugees and stateless persons have become a topical and a global issue. The relationship
between refugees and community security has remained a debatable and highly contested
hence there is need to establish implications of refugees on community security. Therefore
the research seeks to document the experiences and views of Chipinge community, hosts of
Tongogara Refugees.
1.5 Significance of the Study
This research seek to provide the Government of Zimbabwe, legislators, Chipinge rural
district council, Environmentalist, civil organizations, and other relevant major stakeholder
informed bases for policy formulation. It will further contribute to the body of literature
within the academic fraternity on the implications of refugees on community security, while
the recommendations will be forwarded to African leaders and the international fraternity to
craft best strategies for social cohesion and co-existence of refugees and the hosts.

1.6 Assumptions: The following will be assumptions to this research:

 That there is a strong link between refugees and national security of host states
 More emphasis has been placed on refugees’ safety than on host communities.
 Refugee laws do not cover enough to protect host communities.

1.7 Research Objectives

The research shall be guided by the following objectives:
 To establish the laws that governs refugee management in Zimbabwe.
 To examine the relationship between refugees and host communities.
 To analyse implications of refugee on community security.
 Propose strategies to promote social cohesion and coexistence.

1.8 Research Questions

1. What are the laws that govern refugee management in Zimbabwe?
2. What is relationship between refugees and host communities?
3. What are the implications of refugee on community security?
4. What are strategies that can promote social cohesion and coexistence?
1.9 Limitations of the study
Time frame to clearance to access authorisation for research in Tongogara refugee centre is
unpredictable, hence there is need to apply early for authorisation. The research shall
effectively commence in January 2018 and the country will be in election mode. This shall
provide challenges in accessing the Chipinge community as the research may be mistaken for
political infiltration and intelligence gathering, hence proper documentation from the
University and district protocol has to be observed including traditional leaders. Closure of
the camp will mean end of the project, hence life span of the centre has to be established prior
to commence of research.

1.10 Delimitations of the study

 Conceptual delimitation
The study is in peace, conflict and development realm and focus on community
security concept.
 Geographical delimitation
Geographically, this study shall be carried out in Chipinge District, Chipinge south
Constituency, narrowing to villages surrounding the Tongogara refugee camp, other
respondents may be contacted from their and offices in Chipinge and Harare.
 Delimitation on time.
The research will focus on the ten year period from 2007 to 2017; however historical
examples shall be utilised to strengthen and support arguments.

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