AFTER nearly two decades at the Tongogara Refugee Settlement in Zimbabwe, Philosoph qualified for resettlement in the United States (US). He, his wife and 10 others were set to leave on January 21
But just one day before, he received heartbreaking news. Due to an executive order by US President Donald Trump, their resettlement was cancelled.
Philosoph, a father of six, heard the news while completing final departure formalities at the International Organisation for Migration facilities in Harare.
Philosoph, who asked that just his nickname be used because he fears retribution, was going to travel under the US Refugee Admissions Programme. The programme started in Zimbabwe last year. Philosoph first came to Zimbabwe in 2005 from Rwanda, where state repression often makes life difficult for people who oppose the government.
The executive order, which came the day of Trump’s inauguration, issued a stop-work order for all activities by the US Agency for International Development, including resettlement of refugees. This week, USAid was apparently closed, its offices locked and employees told to stay home.
The stop-work order is characterised as a “90-day pause,” but it’s unclear when — or if — USAid programmes will resume. In response to a request for comment, the US State Department confirmed that it has “suspended refugee arrivals and case processing activities”.
It did not provide any other details. More than 1 300 refugees from the settlement were resettled in the US in 2024 and 887 new submissions were made that year, says Johanne Mhlanga, settlement administrator at Tongogara Refugee Settlement.
The settlement is home to about 16 000 refugees and asylum-seekers, including Philosoph and his family. In 2024, over 100 000 refugees were resettled in the US through the US Refugee Admissions Programme. It is the highest number admitted in one year since 1994, according to a 2024 Refugee Council US report. — Global Press Journal
