Refugees contribute to the growth of the country’s economy-Dr Mulenga

Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga has stressed the need to thoroughly investigate the perception about immigrants which tends to instill anxiety in many Zambians.

Speaking during the official opening of the Tenth Meeting for Chief Immigration Officers of the COMESA region at COMESA Headquarters yesterday, Dr. Mulenga said refugees contribute more to the growth of the country’s economy.

And Dr. Mulenga has since implored researcher to be on the ground and collect data that relates to immigration as the data collected will enable organizations and Governments to form sound policies for immigrants.

“There is need to thoroughly investigate the perception about immigrants which tends to instill anxiety in many Zambians” Mulenga said

Meanwhile, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Legal and Corporate Affairs Director Brian Chigawa said it would be prudent to encourage more co-operations through border management and less border controls to facilitate free movement of persons within the COMESA Region.

“We need encourage more co-operations through border management and less border controls to facilitate free movement of persons within the COMESA Region” Chigawa said.

And International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief Immigration Officer Charles Kwenin has expressed gratitude to Common Market for Eastern Southern Africa (COMESA) for including IOM in the Tenth Meeting for Chief Immigration Officers of the COMESA region aimed at promoting free movement of people in the COMESA region.

We are happy to be part of this meeting” Kwenin said