Climate Migrants in Zimbabwe Face Eviction Fears as Crackdown Intensifies

A Fragile Existence

Zimbabwe's fertile Eastern Highlands have become home to many climate migrants who fled their drought-stricken areas. They settled in the region after drought left their land unusable for farming. The migrants have been living there for years.

The climate migrants were forced to leave their homes due to severe drought, which made it impossible for them to sustain their livelihoods. Many had to abandon their farms and relocate to areas with more fertile land.

Can They Find a New Home?

The migrants have been trying to rebuild their lives in the Eastern Highlands, but their presence is now under threat. The government has launched a crackdown on informal settlements, leaving many fearing eviction. „We were forced to leave our homes due to drought, and now we're being told to leave again,”said one migrant.

The crackdown has caused widespread anxiety among the migrant community. Many have invested their savings in building homes and starting new farms in the region. Eviction would mean losing everything they have worked for.

The Zimbabwean government has not provided a clear alternative for the climate migrants. With their livelihoods already precarious, the threat of eviction is a daunting prospect. The migrants are worried about where they will go next if they are forced to leave the Eastern Highlands.

Frequently Asked Questions

The situation is likely to worsen as the government continues its crackdown. The climate migrants are caught between a rock and a hard place, having lost their homes once to drought and now facing the possibility of losing them again.

What will happen to the climate migrants if they are evicted? They will likely be forced to move to other areas, potentially leading to further displacement and poverty. Why are the climate migrants being targeted by the government? The government is cracking down on informal settlements, which includes the areas where the climate migrants have settled. How many climate migrants are affected? Thousands of people who fled drought-stricken areas are facing eviction, although the exact number is unclear.