Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact of Dzaleka (UNISA Dissertation)

Overview

Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact of Hosting Refugees: A Case Study of Villages around the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District, Malawi is a landmark 2016 doctoral dissertation completed at the University of South Africa (UNISA). The research represents one of the most comprehensive long-term ecological and socio-economic evaluations of Dzaleka’s footprint on the surrounding host communities in Central Malawi.

As Dzaleka’s population expanded beyond its original capacity of 10,000 to over 50,000 residents, the dissertation systematically measured environmental stress on local forests, arable land, and groundwater aquifers, while assessing economic interactions between refugees and Malawian villagers.

Key Research Areas & Findings

1. Biomass Fuel and Forest Harvesting

The study documents severe deforestation trends in areas surrounding Dzaleka caused by heavy reliance on firewood and charcoal for cooking. Key findings include:

• Accelerated clearance of indigenous tree species across communal woodlands in Dowa District.
• Escalating fuel prices and increasing distances walked by women and children to gather wood.
• Introduction of energy-efficient cookstove initiatives (chiteketeke) by humanitarian agencies to curb biomass consumption.

2. Groundwater & Resource Competition

The dissertation evaluated borehole water tables and soil quality around Dzaleka, highlighting:

• Seasonal water stress during dry months as demand from the camp competed with local farming needs.
• Soil erosion and siltation in nearby streams resulting from intensive land usage and brick-making.

3. Socio-Economic Synergies with Host Villages

Contrary to purely negative environmental narratives, the research also documented positive economic integration between Dzaleka residents and neighboring Malawian farmers:

• Agricultural Markets: Local farmers regularly sell maize, beans, vegetables, and livestock at Dzaleka’s central market.
• Labor Exchange: Malawian villagers find seasonal agricultural or construction work within camp enterprises.
• Shared Social Infrastructure: Local villagers access healthcare services provided at the Dzaleka Health Centre.

Legacy and Policy Influence

The UNISA dissertation established essential empirical baselines used by environmental NGOs, UNHCR, and the Malawian Ministry of Natural Resources to design reforestation programs, solar cooking interventions, and joint host-refugee community committees in Dowa District.