The origin of conflicts between immigrants and the host community in urban areas of Zambia. the case of Kanyama compound of Lusaka.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the origin of conflicts between refugees and the host community of Kanyama Township in Lusaka. The study was descriptive in nature using qualitative research approach and a case study design. The research objectives were to identify the conflicts between immigrants and the host community in Kanyama compound of Lusaka; Identify the causes of conflicts between immigrants and the local community in Kanyama compound of Lusaka; and to explore the remedial action taken by stakeholders in order to overcome the conflicts between immigrants and the host community in Kanyama compound of Lusaka.

The study site was Kanyama Compound located on the western side of the Central Business District about 4.5 kilometres and has a total population of approximately 370, 000. The sample size was composed of 40 respondents and broken down as follows: 15 immigrants, 15 host community, two government officials from the immigration department that is one Public Relations Officer and one Risk Management Officer, two officials from the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees that is Senior Legal Counsel and one Refugees Protection Officer and four officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The researcher had also included two officials from the International Organization for Immigration (IOM). Unfortunately, the two officials were not available as they were out of the country. The results show that there are various factors leading to conflicts between refugees and the host people. These include economic factors, political factors and social factors. Economically, refugees compete for employment opportunities with the host community which in turn lead to conflict. More so, the results indicate that most of the market places and bus stations are controlled by immigrants or refugees, fueling the conflict with the host community. Socially, the results reveal that host community’s children compete for school places and health services with refugees’ children and hence the conflict. Political related conflict, on the other hand arises in the situation where the government allowed the immigrants or refugees to vote during the 2016 general elections according to the findings of the study. Moreover, the findings indicated that stakeholders can put in place certain measures to address the conflicts between refugees and the local community. These includes the sensitization of the people about adverse effects of conflict, building of separate schools specifically for refugees as well as the health centers among others.