Vision 2030: Even refugees are not left behind

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
TONGOGARA Refugees Settlement has a strategic focus blueprint in place, one that envisions its gradual transition into a service centre for refugees and the host community.
This is anchored by Vision 2030, aimed at attaining an upper middle income economy by 2030, and guided by the agenda: “Agenda for Transformation towards the Tongogara We Want.”
The agenda is to have an integrated settlement with modern infrastructure, including educational facilities, commerce and creativity, as well as to achieve aspirations with key strategic focus to establish a thriving multi-campus Technical and Vocational Education and Training Centre to promote skills acquisition and economic emancipation of youth.
It is also envisaged to promote climate-smart agriculture by expanding the irrigation scheme to at least 200 hectares, with the hope of introducing high-value crops for the export market.
The development layout also seeks to establish woodlots across the settlement as part of climate action, as well as to support the construction of resilient and durable housing units for the refugees.
Tongogara Refugees Settlement is eyeing the strengthening of family-centred empowerment projects as compared to group-based projects, apart from modernising the settlement-based schools by establishing computer laboratories, thereby promoting access to Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT).
Establishment of a sports pavilion with a modern soccer arena is also part of the grand plan.
In her presentation to visiting United Nations Permanent Secretaries last Saturday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister, Honourable Advocate Mercy Dinha, said: “The Government promotes and protects refugee rights in totality. To enhance the realisation of such rights, the Government implements an inclusive policy for all in education, health, child rights, religious rights and related rights. Refugee children are integrated into the Zimbabwean education system from primary to tertiary education.
“We are enhancing availability, accessibility and affordability of education to refugee children. The same policy applies to health, where refugees are included all the way to tertiary health services. Furthermore, the Government is working towards transforming Tongogara Refugee Settlement into a district service centre. The building blocks to achieve this are already in place. The settlement was established in the early 1980s with a surface area size of 870 hectares, with 10 sections within the settlement. The current population living in the settlement is 11 582 (biometrically registered) with 3 327 households. In terms of educational centres, there are two schools – Tongogara Primary School as well as St Michael’s Secondary School. There are also four functional irrigation schemes, sitting on a total 175ha of land. Three financial institutions are currently operating in the settlement, which also enjoys the presence of 25 internet service providers, as well as two ICT centres and two libraries. Ideally, Tongogara Refugee Settlement is a Government institution established in terms of General Notice 252 of 1999 and is under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.”
The settlement is named after the late ZANLA liberation war commander and national hero, General Josiah Magama Tongogara.
In order to operationalise the realisation of the Global Compact on Refugees adopted in 2018, the Government submitted pledges at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum.
Part of the pledges read: “To enhance self-reliance for refugees, asylum seekers and host communities by 2027. To strengthen the inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers and host community in sport and cultural programmes by 2027.
“To promote and increase access to tertiary education for refugees, asylum seekers and host community by establishing a technical/vocational training centre with an innovation hub and blended learning programmes by 2027.”
So far, in the quest for improvement for inhabitants of the settlement as well as the host community, there are tangible achievements at Tongogara Refugees Settlement, including a 175ha irrigation scheme, benefiting 647 households, with each family allocated an average of 0,2ha.
The settlement now has a radio station called FM Tongogara – a development that has enhanced access to information among the refugee community as well as the host community. A total of 86 refugee youths are enrolled at various universities in and outside Zimbabwe.
About 15 business premises operated by refugees are connected to the national grid.
Financial inclusion is a reality – Ecocash and Omari agents, as well as Mukuru, operate at the settlement.
There is also a smart and green vegetable market with 60 stalls that was established, benefiting 103 households, thereby promoting income generation and empowerment of women.
In terms of livelihoods, a total of 240 households established small businesses such as grocery shops, cosmetology shops, grinding mills, garment making shops, hardware, and boutiques.
Diversified livelihood projects such as poultry, goat, and fishery projects are also being implemented at the settlement, benefiting hundreds of refugees. Development in the sports industry has also been factored in.
Tongogara Refugee Settlement administrator, Mr Johane Mhlanga, said: “Tongogara United Football Club is playing in the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League Division One. The Tongogara Judo Team has 34 athletes whose activities have since been recognised and integrated by the Judo Association of Zimbabwe. The team is participating in judo for peace regional programmes in Southern Africa.
“Tongogara Karate Club, known as Funakoshi Eagle Club, has 35 athletes and the club is affiliated to Japan Shotokan Karate Association. The club is competing in all national competitions. There is also a community-based protection mechanism at Tongogara Refugees Settlement.
“Sustainable protection can only be achieved through resilient and vigilant community structures. Therefore, to enhance community involvement and to promote transparency and accountability, sectoral community structures are established, and these are community leaders, child protection committee, education committee, Gender-Based Violence committee, water management committee, youth committee, irrigation management committee, as well as the Wise Council Committees across nationalities. Tongogara Refugee Settlement is transitioning into a service centre. It is envisioned that the transformation agenda will be a game-changer for refugees to realise their full potential. The integral parts of the transformation agenda are the Whole of Government, Whole of Society, Leaving No One Behind, and Delivering as One.”