Paper short abstract:

Migration scholarship in Southern Africa has long ignored Zimbabwe's long history of hosting refugees and asylum seekers. This paper assesses whether/not Zimbabwe has been able to deliver the conventional protection services for refugees given the fragile and/ unstable socioeconomic environment.

Paper long abstract:

Migration scholarship in Southern Africa has long ignored Zimbabwe's long history of hosting refugees and asylum seekers. The first group of refugees were from war torn Mozambique in the 1980s, following Zimbabwe’s independence. Responding to the growing influx of refugees then, the Government of Zimbabwe established camps, which were often overcrowded. The government also enacted policies to control the influx, though enforcement prioritised the need to protect fellow Africans who had sheltered the freedom-fighters and the country’s refugees during the war for independence. With political and economic deterioration in Zimbabwe (early 1990s), refugee numbers dropped significantly. While the subject of refugees has gained considerable attention from migration scholarship, knowledge gaps remain pertaining Zimbabwe’s ability to meet the protection/welfare needs of its refugee population considering the ongoing economic challenges. Through a rigorous review of literature, this paper assesses whether/not Zimbabwe has been able to deliver the conventional protection/welfare services for refugees given the fragile/unstable socioeconomic environment. It further assesses the prevailing refugee policy regime in Zimbabwe and how this has developed over the years. This study is critical because it provides an opportunity to understand the effects of fragile economies on the welfare outcomes of refugees. Furthermore, given that accepting refugees is a political statement of sovereignty and regional solidarity, this study presents an opportunity to explore how the socioeconomic environment is central in determining the success/failure of political ambitions/commitments. Findings could inform/guide intervention strategies towards improved protection and inclusion outcomes for refugees in Zimbabwe and the communities they interact with.