Story by Tamuka Charakupa
THE government has pledged to improve the welfare of refugees at the Tongogara Refugee Camp by implementing self-sustenance programmes.
Several projects are already being implemented at the Camp in Chipinge to improve standards of living.
Tongogara Refugee Camp Administrator, Mr Johanne Mhlanga took ZBC News through some of the projects which address various challenges including food security, education, and information communication technology needs of the community.
“We have expanded the irrigation scheme from 100 hectares to 150 hectares. We have constructed an infant block at the ECD Centre which is part of efforts to decongest Tongogara Primary School. We have a new clean and safer vegetable market that is under construction and is almost complete. We are in the process of completing a community information centre. These are some of the major highlights for the World Refugee Day celebrations,” he noted.
Mr Mhlanga also spoke on the refugee relocation programme, which is being implemented to depopulate the camp.
“Resettlement is one way of addressing solutions meant to address the vicious cycle of refugeehood. To date, we have more than over 400 refugees who have relocated to other countries such as the United States and a few to the UK. We are aware that the majority are not prepared to go home, they are in a protracted situation because of the disturbances back home,” he added.
Zimbabwe will join the rest of the world in commemorating World Refugee Day on the 20th of June.
