Asylum seekers, Refugees and Social Safety Nets: Opportunities and Challenges at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Chipinge, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study examines the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in accessing social safety nets at Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC). A qualitative literature review complemented by six key-informant interviews generated data for the article. The study used a social development approach to understand and analyse the existing opportunities and challenges for asylum seekers and refugees at Tongogara Refugee Camp. Research findings suggest that there are a number of social safety nets for refugees and asylum seekers at Tongogara Refugee Camp. Some of them include school fee waivers, free medical care, cash transfers, rotational schemes and financial remittances among others. However, several challenges affect the provision of the social safety nets among asylum seekers and refugees. Some of them include the welfare approach to social protection programs, lack of access to banking facilities, lack of weaning approaches from the social assistance programs, and inadequate funding to cater for all refugee needs. The study concludes that the social safety nets for refugees and asylum seekers at Tongogara Refugee Camp are not of a developmental nature. The duty bearers should embrace the social development approach in the provision of social safety nets for refugees and asylum seekers at TRC.