UNHCR to expand Tongogara Refugee Camp

Zim Now Writer

The Tongogara Refugee Camp, near Chipinge in Manicaland Province, an estimated 420km from Harare, is expanding its irrigation scheme from 50 to 150 hectares to improve food security.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is mobilising resources to expand the irrigation scheme.

The refugee camp, with a population above 15 000 refugees and asylum seekers.

Tongogara Refugee Camp administrator, Johanne Mhlanga said they have so far cleared 91 hectares for the project, adding that the scheme would accommodate 750 households managing 0.25 hectares each.

“We have started the expansion process. So far, we cleared 91 hectares for flood irrigation. We will begin with five hectares under drip irrigation as a pilot project. The whole idea of the irrigation scheme is to contribute towards food security.

“We want to ensure that refugees are involved in income-generating projects, and we also want to make sure that refugees are occupied and have something to do as families,” he said.

Mhlanga also said the project will ensure that refugees do not depend on well-wishers for their livelihood as it will assist them in becoming self-reliant.

“We want to make sure that we remove refugees from the dependence syndrome where they rely on the benevolence of well-wishers and humanitarian agencies,” said Mhlanga.