Government says Zambia has not refused to host Zimbabwean victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa but that it needed to be consulted and that adequate resources should be available to host more refugees.
Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande who is also Kasempa Member of Parliament described hosting of refugees as an expensive venture which required a lot of resources.
Mr. Pande explained that Zambia has hosted too many refugees than any other country in the region.
He explained that though Zambia has a responsibility under the United Nations to host refugees it also has the onus to look after them well.
Mr. Pande was answering a question from Rogers Chayanga in Mufumbwe today who wanted to know why the Zambian Government was refusing to host the Zimbabweans who had been displaced by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pande who is in Mufumbwe to meet Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) party cadres and Civil Servants challenged the people of the district to be committed to fostering development in the area.
He said no outsider would develop Mufumbwe but the local people themselves.
Turning to Civil Servants, Mr. Pande said they should exhibit high professionalism.
Mr. Pande who is also MMD Vice National Chairperson called on the party officials in Mufumbwe to work hand in hand with the Civil Servants in a bid to not only transform Mufumbwe but Zambia as a whole.
He urged councillors to be proactive on issues that affect people in their area and not to wait for ministers to tell them what to do.
And speaking earlier, Mufumbwe District Commissioner, Robert Muyutu said despite the growing population in the district and economic investment inflows in Mufumbwe, the district has no Bank.
The Mufumbwe District Commissioner however thanked Government for tarring the Kasempa-Mufumbwe road which he said will boost economic investments in the area.
And in a vote of thanks, a resident George Kapendula called upon government to connect Mufumbwe to the national electricity grid.
Mr. Kapendula said if this is not possible, Government should provide the District with new electricity generating machines as the old ones have outlived their life span
Mr. Pande is on a tour of his constituency to check on developmental activities embarked on by Government and by cooperating partners.
Zambia is a very very poor country, where is she going to find all that to help Zimbabweans? We need to sort ourselves first,Edu,food,Hsp,Rds?Let Zim go back home and vote out Comrade Chief Army Commander Robert Mugabe.These are not Africans, but ZIMBABWEANS.
Pande is showing some element of ignorance. Where on earth do refugees consult any govt before seeking refugee status?? The term explains itself, someone seeking refuge has really no time to consult, but is at the mercy of those that he is asking to provide him with some refuge!!