Abstract:
The sudden presence of refugees significantly altered the lives of the local population in
Kibondo District. The present study was carried out to determine socio-economic effects of
refugees on the local community. It was geared specifically to determine economic status
of local people in Kibondo district after refugees’ influx. Furthermore, the study
investigated social effects of refugees on the hosts, attitude of people towards the refugees
and mitigation efforts done by the government and other relief agencies to reduce effects of
refugees on the local community. The study was conducted in Kibondo district which has
been highly receiving refugees from various countries. Data was collected from households
and individuals in the refugee host area. Other respondents included key informants such
as the District Commissioner, District Natural Resources Officer; Head of UNHCR Suboffice
in Kibondo district and District Medical Officer. Secondary data were documentary
materials from the government reports, research reports, village records and books from
University of Dar es salaam and Sokoine University of Agriculture libraries. A crosssectional
survey was employed and covered 150 hosts’ households and 30 households in
refugee camps. The study revealed that the opportunities available in the host communities
changed in both positive and negative ways in agriculture, environment, market economy,
infrastructure and social services context. On the positive side, refugees represented a
source of cheap agricultural labour for villagers in the study area; refugees labour was
attractive to local farmers because it was cheap and readily available hence increased
production of food crops. Despite the benefits of refugee labour, many villagers blamed
theft, particularly of food crops. On environmental perspective, refugees affected
environment due to firewood and charcoal uses. The study findings can be used by a wide
range of stakeholders and the government of Tanzania to create refugees’ policies.
