Settlement, protracted displacement, and repatriation at Mayukwayukwa in western Zambia

Abstract

In 1967, the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) began resettling Angolan refugees into independent Zambia’s first official refugee camp, Mayukwayukwa in Kaoma District, Western Province, Zambia. After nearly 40 years living as refugees, Angolans began a process of repatriation – or return – to Angola. By 2010, the prospects of full repatriation from Mayukwayukwa to Angola were limited, forcing the community, the governments, and the international refugee regime to address long-standing appeals for alternative settlement options. This article begins by providing a historical understanding of refugee-hosting in Western Province, Zambia and proceeds to trace the ever-evolving contours of protracted refugee-hosting at Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement. I utilize in-depth interviews to assess the Zambian and Angolan perceptions of refugee-hosting, settlement, repatriation, citizenship and identity. Ultimately, the protracted displacement of Angolans in Zambia challenges the discourse that privileges repatriation as the ideal durable solution. Additionally, the case of Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement not only illustrates the utility of geographic approaches to refugee research, but also contributes to broader discussions regarding geographies of mobility, transnational identities, development, and displacement.