Explored Socioeconomic and Cultural Conflicts Emanating from Refugee Integration in Meheba Refugee Settlement, Zambia: Husserlian Phenomenology Approach

Abstract

This study explored socioeconomic and cultural conflicts emanating from refugee integration in Meheba Refugee Settlement, Zambia. The objectives were to: (i) establish challenges associated with refugee integration in Meheba, (ii) describe socioeconomic and cultural conflicts emanating from refugee integration in Meheba, and (iii) explore gaps in the actions taken by stakeholders to deal with socioeconomic and cultural conflicts emanating from refugee integration in Meheba. Data was qualitatively generated by interviewing 13 participants, selected purposively and through snowballing in a Husserlian Phenomenological approach. Slothful award of legal identity documents, rampant unemployment, intolerable controls and restrictions in conducting businesses, inadequate sustainable farming enablers and poor provision of public services were established socioeconomic challenges hindering smooth refugee integration in Meheba while language barriers and lapses in customary practises were cultural challenges. These challenges mushroom identity conflicts waged among integrating parties due to scarce and imbalanced distribution of resources and opportunities. Thus, among others, law reforms, policy intervention, and community-based conflict management programmes were recommended.