The implications of Tokwe-Mukosi dam on people’s welfare: the case of Chingwizi transit camp (2014-2016)

Abstract

The construction of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam in Chivi area resulted in the displacement of thousands of families from their home area to the Chingwizi Transit Camp in Mwenezi District. The idea of the dam construction started in 1998 but faced a lot of drawbacks due to financial strains the country had. In 2014 Chivi area received a lot of rainfall exceeding the average amount the area receives. This saw the area experiencing floods and thousands of families being displaced. The evacuation of the victims was however not done on time which saw many losing their belongings and the situation was worsened by the government’s failure to compensate the victims on their loss. This created miserable lives for the displaced and made them rely on donations to make ends meet in the camp. In the camp there were a plethora of problems faced by the victims varying from shelter, food and clothing shortages to outbreak of diseases, poor educational standards and medical attention. The clinics and schools were far from the holding tents making it difficult for many to reach for them resulting in school dropouts and relying on traditional medication. There were also the problems of sanitation in the camp as there were few toilets which saw the majority opting for the bush. The few toilets were always dirty making it uncomfortable to use them. Donations on women sanitary towels have been hit by corruption and most women have resorted to tree leaves, rags and newspapers which are unhygienic and unhealthy. Traditional means have been applied by the victims to cater for problems and many parents have resorted to marrying their daughters to some well-to-do members in the nearby sugarcane communities. There is therefore need for the government to take consideration of the victims’ way of living making sure that they are well supplied with basic need in the camps where they would have been temporarily kept.