Friday, March 29, 2024

Over 230 flee DRC for Zambia

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Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Dr Chileshe Mulenga
Permanent Secretary Dr Chileshe Mulenga

A total of 233 refugees from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of ZambiaCongo (DRC) have so far entered Zambia following the political instability that has characterised that country.

However, the Zambia Red Cross Society says about 400 asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have so far received humanitarian assistance in the last few days.

ZANIS reports that Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga said the country has continued to record an influx of refugees from the DRC into Zambia through various border posts.

Dr Mulenga said the highest number of 151 refugees entered Zambia on December 21, 2016 through Sumbu, Mpulungu and Kaputa border posts of Northern and Luapula provinces respectively.

He said the Office of the Commission for Refugees is working closely with all the law enforcement agencies to screen the refugees from the DRC before placing them in the designated refugee centres.

And Dr Mulenga expressed hope that the political instability in the DRC will be resolved peacefully and timely for the benefit of the people.

Dr Mulenga said Zambia and DRC have for a long time continued to enjoy cordial relations and therefore the current political instability in the DRC is of great concern.

He said this is not the first time that Zambia is hosting the refugees from the DRC and other neighbouring countries and called on Zambians to respect and honour human rights of refugees.

Dr Mulenga has also called on the international community, especially the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Zambia Red Cross Society to help the refugees from the DRC to settle peacefully in the country.

However, the Zambia Red Cross Society says about 400 asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have so far received humanitarian assistance in the last few days.

Zambia Red Cross Society Communications and Public Relations Manager Bruce Mulenga confirmed to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the Society has established transitory camps with Emergency Response Materials in Kipushi, Kakoma, Chiengi, Kaputa, Nsumbu, Mpulungu and Nchelenge districts.

Mr. Mulenga explained that the humanitarian assistance includes food aid and non-food aid such as blankets, mosquito nets and immediate medical support.

And from Kaputa district in Northern Province, ZANIS reports that over thirty-five Congolese nationals mainly from Moba in Katanga region of Eastern Congo have entered Zambia to seek asylum.

Kaputa District Commissioner, Mulenga Fube said the district is conducting both security and health screening on the asylum seekers before they are accepted in the country.

Mr Fube said that the district which borders Congo DR has been receiving asylum seekers almost on a daily basis adding that the number is likely to increase.

The District Commissioner further revealed that Chief Kaputa has since provided the Congolese nationals with temporal shelter during their stay in Zambia.

And in Mpulungu , district authorities have disclosed that 47 asylum seekers from Congo and Burundi have been received and are in transit to Maheba refugee camp.

Mpulungu District Commissioner Dennis Sikazwe said that all the asylum seekers will be taken to Maheba refugee camp because the district does not have capacity to accommodate them.

24 COMMENTS

    • Mr Mushota sir, please start addressing yourself as MIB2016 now and not BB2014. Complements of the season and congrats for scooping Most Irritating Blogger (MIB) 2016 award.

      Thanks

    • This is poor reporting, LT. The author of this article should have included a summary of the reason why these people are fleeing their country into Zambia. Just saying “political instability” is not enough information. Don’t assume that readers know what’s happening in DRC. A paragraph summarizing the current political events in DRC, which are causing people to flee the country, would help readers understand the situation better and would add some professionalism to this article. Be professional.

  1. african governments are a let down…… Kabila must have step down . Zambians are paying the price of hosting refugees when the President should have respected the constitution as his term came to an end

  2. Yes they are most welcome especially WOMEN without children. They can actually forget about returning back to Zaire afterall, we’re one and the same people having been brought in central Africa by the Arab slave masters from Etheopia in the 1600s. I shall join you soon as l also intend to run away from these frozen parts of the world and from the Arctic blasts…

  3. This country’s citizens should just adopt Zambia as their second homecountry. We have been keeping refugees from DRC since the 60s when Shombe rebelled. Dag Hammaskjoeld even died in Zambia trying to sort out Congo’s problems. Isnt it time all congolese decided enough is enough lets have PEACE?

  4. Refugee camp needs to be set up for the DRC refugees.
    If Govt lets them mingle among the locals, soon they’ll get Zambian NRCs & passports & later migrate to RSA soon after learning English. All DRC refugees in RSA have stayed in Zambia.
    After entering RSA they overstay & apply for assylum & throw the Zambian Passport in a bin or sell it to Nigerians. That’s how the Zambian Passport became devalued to a point where Zambians are being given 3-days stay at Beitbridge.

  5. Whatever went wrong with Congo DRC? It has been that way from the very beginning in 1960 when the country attained its independence from Belgium. What is AU doing? What have they done to address perpetual issues like this?

    • @Meimatungu, …African Union does nothing to sort out problems in Africa. In Gambia Jammeh has refused to leave office even after losing the election, and we hope war doesn’t breakout there. And so far, AU is doing nothing about it. Maybe we need a better organization than this do nothing club.

  6. What about PF who never won the elections for 2015 and 2016? It is Lungu ‘s PF behaving like Kabila. Normal PF was buried with Sata who respected the will of people. Lungu is selfish like Kabila, Mugabe, Muse7 who has come on scene to damage the image of Zambian politics no wonder he has no clue how to govern the Country. Stealing has consequences.

  7. President Kabila, must go. if it is in the western part of the world Kabila will be history by now.

    What’s going on in DRC makes SADC and SADC intelligence agencies questionable.

    What does Zambian intelligence thinks abut what’s going in our neighboring country? or it’s none of our business.

  8. Mugabe style of leadership,stupid man.
    Kabila it seems no one wants you.do you want all people to flee and leave the all drc to you and whom are you going to govern then……

  9. Once ifyongo comes to an end pliz kolopa all back to Congo we don’t want problems with these people,to tell you the truth Congo doesn’t tolerate foreigners to have peace like we do.

  10. I am coming to run for President of Zambia. I will fix everything that is wrong with Zambia. There won’t be corruption. Zambia will be the food basket of all Africa and China. I will talk to Putin too so I can supply Russia with Pork and Maize. Those Russians love meat and most of their country is frozen, so that a business opportunity for Zambia to supply them with agri products while we get their oil in return. China needs more food too as they producing more children like there is no tomorrow. I will make Zambia army to be powerful and then I will take over Congo since those Monkeys cannot get along and simply can’t rule themselves. When that is accomplished, I will kick out all those Westerners looting Zambia and Congo’s resources. Then I will go after Angola because Zambia and…

    • Monkey tharts not fair comment baba, remember did help rebells to enter DRC from katanga
      Amour military entered DRC katanga from zambia
      Educate yourself about DRC complexity its an important hystoric neihbourg we are related
      Zambian politician must read régional politics politics properly and be part of the solution like gambian neihbourg are doing !

      Why is zambia and SADC silent on Kabila ?

  11. Zambia will need a sea coast to do business. The we will go onand take over all the neighboring countries. This is not all to become a bully and dictator, but it good for the future of Africa. We need to be powerful. Then will all those resources, we will be building our own cars, weapons. We will be powerful, forget these foreigner like China that are looting Africa. Africa needs to take control and with a powerful and focused leadership like me, Africa will move forward.

  12. Zambia has been a receptacle of massive numbers of Refugees before having accommodated The Congolese, Namibiansm Rhodesians, South Africans, Mozambiqueans, and even Somalians. We are a very accommodating nation hosting these people with full provision of ammenities education,health services ,food, housing and in cases jobs. Few of them are cognizant and appreciative of Zambias sacrifices. They scoff at our apparent inability to function fully and productively as a nation. Much of the world do not even know how pivotal Zambia is in regional politics. They quickly discuss all other countries but Zambia. The lesson here is this, that while we again help our neighbours we must also fully seek the full support of Global Relief agencies and governments as well as sincere commitment from…

  13. “A total of 233 refugees from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Zambia (DRC) have so far entered Zambia following the political instability that has characterised that country.”

    I find very disturbing that here is an article whose very first line is blatantly wrong and not one of the readers comments on that fact. Since when did the DRC become Democratic Republic of Zambia, this is just insane. LT editors, PLEASE do your work before publishing. One day you will find yourselves charged with Treason, after some blogger writes something jeopardising the state security.

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