Chief Mumena of the Kaonde speaking people in Kalumbila district has observed that the continuous back and forth movement of refugees from Maheba refugee camp is due to the conditions prevailing in the camp.
The traditional leader states that the camp has not been made habitable for a long time by the relevant people.
He revealed that the road infrastructure and the dwelling’s are in a deplorable state hence most refugees leaving the camp.
He mentioned that in terms of food security, most refugees depend on hand outs because they fail grow their own food due to lack of farm input.
He said if organisations could provide them with farming inputs so that they are able to accessible within the camp, the camp residents would become self reliant.
He said if they are supported to grow their own food and are provided with good education, health care and road infrastructure, this will help them stay in one place.
“But the truth is, we have not done justice to our people in the refugee camp and that is why we continue seeing these movements because they want greener pastures,” he said.
He also revealed that most refugees do not have legal documents to support their stay in the country.
He said the refugees where given two years permits but that they expired in March this year.
“So most of them are stateless and if they move lets say to Solwezi and they happen to meet an immigration officer, they will automatically be arrested because they do not have documentation to support their stay in the country,” he said.
He mentioned that because of their stateless condition, they cant access jobs despite having qualifications.
He however indicated that the royal establishment working in collaboration with other stakeholders is working towards ensuring that the refugee community can be able to access jobs in the mines.
He said talks are very active despite the delay in the implementation process.
The traditional leader was speaking when Irish Ambassador to Zambia Bronagh Carr paid a courtesy call on him at his palace.
