| Feature by Valorie Lennox The Review Early in the moming at the Mazowe River Bridge refugee camp, a woman sweeps the dirt outside her small brick cottage, staff quarters for workers at this camp in the Rushinga border dis- trict of Zimbabwe. Behind the office and staff quar- ters, another woman repeatedly wails that her child is dead and on the empty roof. Both scenes, the tidily swept dirt and the wailing woman, reflect the dual character of the refugee camp, home to 28,000 people escaping the civil war in nearby Mozambi- > que. Madness is a problem, as is boredom and addiction to the home-brewed white beer Yet the thatched huts forming the 15 refugee villages in the camp are neat if closely packed, there are schools and playgrounds for the children, medical services and daily allocations of food, all pro- vided in a joint effort by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the Zimbabwe gov- ernment and non-government organizations. The camp is administered by 10 officers and 15 general workers, all paid through the United Nations Commission for Refugees. Land for the 550 hectare camp was provided by the Zimbabwe government in 1983. In 1982 the first refugees had begun trickling across the border from the neigh- boring Tete province, driven out of their home by attacks of the Mozambique National Resistance Movement (Renamo). At the time Zimbabwe was struggling to recover from its own civil war, which ended with forma- tion of the country two years earlier. Unable to feed, clothe or shelter the refugees, the govern- ment appealed to the United Nations. With international help four camps were established: Mazowe River Bridge Camp and Nyama- tikiti in Mashonaland Central Province and Tongogara and Nyan- gombe in Manicaland. ‘Each refugee receives a daily ration of 40 grams of maize meal, 30 grams of beans, 30 grams of kapenta (a dried fish), 20 grams of sugar | Boredom m ars refugee haven TWIG BY TWIG, Carlos Domingo weaves baskets in the Mazowe River Bidge Refugee Camp. Domingo fled the Civil war in Mozambique for the Zimbabwe border camp in 1984 and hopes to return home when the war ends. He starfed making the baskets two years ago and can produce three a day, which he sells for $2 Zimbabwe each (about 80 cents Canaaian). stores within the camp. By far the biggest selling item is the home-brewed African beer, which counteracts some of the tension and boredom of life in the camp. Traditional music and songs are played late into the night as people gather in the villages to talk and drink. There are games of net ball and football and skills training in forg- ing, Sewing, carpentry, weaving and building, camp worker Joyce Chifodya explained. But the skills learned are usually contained within the camp. Regulations prohibit refugees from working outside the camp and a permit is required to leave the area. Deprived of the opportunity to work or the need to grow food, most find camp life boring. Basic sanitary facilities and water is provided, although a cement shortage has hampered construction of enough outhouses to serve the camp population. Water is available from com- munal taps and water tanks pro- vided by. the Zimbabwe govern- Continued on Page A28 RRSP: TheReview The Reform Party of Canada Saanich Gulf Islands WE WANT NEW MEMBERS NOW! 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We will be open for your RRSP business: Call now to reserve your ticket or drop by the office 656-5561 Each refugee receives a daily Wed. Feb. 27 9:30 am-7pm ; g : WE appreciate your great support ration of 40 grams of maize meal, : Pp your g pp 30 grams of beans, 30 grams of Thurs. Feb. 28 9:30 am - 7 pm Se kapenta (a dried fish), 20 grams of Fri. Mar. 4 9:30 am - 7 pm sugar and 20 ml of cooking oil. World Vision International pro- vides nutritional supplements for pre-school children throughout the camp. The refugees can supplement the food allocation with maize grown in camp fields. Some do crafts or operate little hut-front Sidney Branch Telephone: 656-1170 Scotiabank 3% CEA The World's Leading Cruise Lines and Travel Agents Working Together NS