A history of Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement 1966-2013
Date
2016
Authors
Namwanyi, Lenin Nalumino
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
This study attempts to reconstruct the history of Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement.
It examines the role and function that was played by the settlement between 1966 and
2013. By 2013, the refugee settlement was the oldest in Zambia. It is illustrated in the
study how most of the changes that occurred concerning policies followed in the
handling of refugees in Zambia were pioneered at Mayukwayukwa up to 2013 when
Zambia began integrating former Angolan refugees locally. The study highlights the
background to the refugee problem in Zambia and how Mayukwayukwa was
established as a temporal settlement to host Angolan refugees in Zambia. Various
frameworks are examined to demonstrate why it was necessary to establish
agricultural based refugee settlements in Zambia like Mayukwayukwa in the 1960s.
The study illustrates how the settlement continued to exist through changing social,
economic, political and ideological policies and atmosphere from 1966 to 2013.
These were changing times in and around the host nation Zambia. The experiences at
Mayukwayukwa in the period under discussion provided lessons on how Zambia
hosted refugees. The study demonstrated how the experiences at Mayukwayukwa
influenced the development of Zambia’s refugee policies. Also discussed were the
attempts to repatriate the Angolan refugees back to their country when the
atmosphere seemed conducive. Last to be discussed were the procedures that were
undertaken to finally change the policy and to integrate the former Angolan refugees
locally in Zambia. The study concluded that there was a strong relationship between
the development of Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement and that of Zambia’s
refugee policy from 1966 to 2013. Also concluded is that various factors contributed
to the establishment of refugee settlements in Zambia. Last to be concluded is that
many attempts were made towards the repatriation and local integration of refugees
from Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement.
Description
Master of Arts in History
Keywords
Refugees-Zambia , Political Refugees Settlement-Zambia