Britain has announced that it is temporarily withdrawing a limited number of UK staff and their dependents from its High Commission in Lusaka due to what it calls a rapidly changing situation in the region.
In an advisory note, the High Commission says it will continue to carry out essential work including providing 24/7 consular assistance and support to British people in Zambia.
It said 24 hour support is available by telephone for all routine enquiries and emergencies.
“Please call 0 211 423 200 – Option 2,” it advises.
In another advisory issued earlier in the week, the High Commission announced that access to the British High Commission Lusaka was restricted.
“Due to the current situation concerning COVID-19, the British High Commission in Lusaka will operate at reduced capacity from 20 March until further notice. This may result in slower response time and we apologise for the inconvenience this will cause. Access to the BHC consular section is by appointment only.
And in a message for all British nationals visiting or living in Zambia, the UK High Commission said the current situation is unprecedented.
“We are in an unprecedented situation. The sudden announcement of travel and other restrictions has happened at a pace no one could have predicted, forcing airlines to suspend routes. And the British Government itself now advises British nationals against all but essential international travel, anywhere in the world. We are therefore advising all British nationals in Zambia who wish to return to the UK to speak to their airline or tour operator promptly for further information regarding flights.”
“I know that for many of you this, and the continued uncertainty, is causing stress and concern, exacerbated by a lack of or slow access to public information. At the moment, I cannot provide you with the immediate reassurance on departures some of you are seeking. We do not have capacity to speak to every single one of you. But please rest assured that my consular team, colleagues at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London and all around the world are working hard to resolve the situation and provide you with the information you are seeking.”
“Given the challenges we are facing globally, we are asking only those of you in a vulnerable position (such as special health needs, or those with young children) to contact the British High Commission.”
And a UK resident in Zambia identified as Usman Patel wrote on Facebook asking the High Commission to help him return to the UK.
“I contacted the High Comission 2 days ago to advise that my return flights back to the UK have been cancelled and I cannot find any flights home. I was told to arrange accommodation and wait for an update. Now if you are arranging travel for UK staff and dependents to return to the UK, surely you can arrange travel for a UK resident? At this rate, it seems I could be stranded here for months.”
Why are people still been allowed to move aimlessly? If not for aimlessly movements this virus could have been contained in China.
We understand and this should have been done earlier. Thank you
I have just read the article or rather fake news posted by Zambia watchdog alleging that I beat up some pf provincial official at Chicago’s last night and that I threatened to shoot him. That is funny when I was at home with my family at the same time. Anyway I am sure I have many imaginary clones. I was not drinking last night. If anything I am drinking today in kafue. So if you seem me approach me and I will get you a free drink.
Kz
Director of higher intelligence in OP
This si not making sense the disease Burden here is so low .. that these people are at higher risk in their country. Is there something we don’t know yet ??
Yes, there is something we may not know yet. Covid -19 infections in S.Africa are very high by now and there is frequent travel between RSA and Zambia so there is likely to be a knock on effect on Zambia.So far the screening at airport is not adequate,the Brits may be fearing an explosion of lantent time bomb of incubating infections.
Every country should withdraw their ambassadors in the work of Covid 19. It is a game changer in the way we operate.
Let’s all go digital.
Zambians let’s encourage e-transactions. Like Kenya, let’s ensure that 95% of our transactions are moneyless. All supermarkets to deliver products at our door steps. No human to human contacts.
Let’s get paid through our phones.
I guess you can not read between the lines. You don’t even have a health care system to talk about what will happen if the 20,000 people get infected? And if you think that’s a joke wait a few more weeks
Access to those expensive ventilators is an issue in case of infection. How many of them do we have in Zed ? So that might have been a factor in evacuating their middle aged staff to the UK.
Guess which part of the world the people that brought corona virus to South Africa came from, yes. Europe. Now they want to act like Africa brought this nonsense. Africa put strict policies and monitor every imperialist coming in. Africans at least listen. In Italy some crazy people are still roaming the streets defying authorities and medical personnel. kikikiki
Could it be that the spread of the virus is well calculated by some evil characters. Why are they pulling out from a flying pan into fire. Could it be that someone knows what will happen in Zambia soon regarding infections. Could it be that some people are technically spreading the virus. Zambia has recorded only 2 cases and Gvt has put in measures to control the spread of virus such as restricting flights from affected countries. Why pulling out of Zambia going back to UK where the infection rate is so high. Something fishiii here
Let them go,who cares?
I guess the British like anyone in their right frame of mind are fearing nothing but the “Lockdown” which at the rate things are going has no definite timeframe. Its a matter of ‘let these rains find me home’ I can’t afford to be outside the comfort of my home! There might be other factors at play being referred to in “rapidly changing situation in the region”.
So they’re leaving a country that has only 2 (imported) recorded cases and zero mortality to a place that has over 4000 cases and 200 deaths? Does that make sense? On top of that, London is now shutting down, social distancing and isolation directives are being put in place.. let’s just hope they don’t return with it. Make sure they’re quarantined for 14 days upon entry like everyone else.
mmmmmmm something somba here!!!!!
KZ , my little boy what ever has become of you , remove that fake title , we know who you and what you doing
in destroying the peace of this country , you are not even ashamed to be making such statement ,you are just embarrassing
your Boss, as this does not help either him or yourself and later alone the PF.
We know all about your schemes with your bad group ,shame shame upon all of you , time will soon catch up with you all, ask RB and many more have been there
Better ask them about the seemingly conspiratorial asteroidal crash
I’m also shocked that the UK is trying to withdraw its citizens from a country that is much safer than theirs?
Kikiki!!! Laughable indeed. UK has over 400 deaths and over 1000 confirmed COVID-19 cases whilst Zambia has recorded only 2 cases and no deaths from the virus. Simple logic implies that those dear families of heirs are safer here than in COVID-19 infested UK. As others have said maybe we need to learn more from such incoherence thinking from the UK government.
This is disaster indeed!!!!
Edwin I do not take kindly to wild accusations without evidence. I would urge you to issue an apology to me within 48 hours.
Hypocrites. In uk corona virus cases are more than 1000 and in Zambia only 2
I don’t think the withdrawn individuals will be in a harry to come to the UK. The situation is critical here. It’s testing times and for as much as they wish hell on earth for Africa, Zambians are in a much better position. Just make sure you tighten the border and not let in bogus doctors pretending to vaccinate our people against this virus when the true intentions are evil and babaric.
Under such circumstances, the situation provides an option that diplomats and expat staff choose where they think it will be safe, home or in a foreign country. These guys are also humans and relatives they may be worried of back in their countries. It is always better to home than in a foreign country when going through a crisis. Such staff withdraws are not only happening in Zambia but global.
It’s fine. People want to go home to their families. Don’t be offended, Brits in other countries like Spain also went home. It’s a primal reaction.
Having said that, I strongly criticise the govt for not capitalising on the low numbers thus far. Bars, Churches SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHUT. They have here, many Churches have closed until further notice notice on the door. My church sent us emails informing closures, staying ‘The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, following Government advice, have now directed us to do all we can to limit social interaction and I am writing to tell you with deep regret that there will be no more public worship at Holy Trinity Church until further notice.’. So why is Zambian govt allowing 1 hour services and even longer for Bars???????????????
Govt, YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. STOP THIS LACKADAISICAL RESPONSE. YOU ARE BEING CARELESS.
The nature of this flu can change on the daily, quickly taking hold and shooting through the population. GOVT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COPE (that’s if there is one left). Look at Italy, the death rate is large, 800 people today alone. Zambia has no environment to prevent a slaughter of people.
The best advantage we have currently is the low numbers. Shut bars. Stop minibuses. Stop services, our church is conducting services on Facebook. JUST STOP ACTING LIKE YOU HAVE THE CODE TO THIS! ACT NOW, AND PEOPLE LISTEN, ISOLATE.
They care about their front line staff the secruity guards and those who touch your passports…plus they dont trust Dr. Chilufya.
Actually, even the largest markets in lusaka and other towns should shut down. The ones that are dense. It will cause financial hardships. But it could be just for a month or so. Oh, the headache of envisioning the danger of our dense environment. Can’t the govt lean on the China experience?
Why did they stay until now.
Its funny when I read some ignorant comments here. I work in government and know what is going on. I cannot always disclose all information but in this instance all I will say is that tarino is a lying I.d.i.o.t. he does not have a clue or what is happening.
The worse would be to go back and catch virus. Why can’t Government close bars all people drink from their homes
The decision reflects the pace at which other countries are closing borders / implementing restrictions, not the current situation here where the authorities & Zambians are preparing well for what may be a difficult period ahead. We will continue to support them to do so. Staff needed to continue critical work will remain here and Brits will still have access to 24/7 consular assistance.
Usman Patel, since when you stopped believing in Allah? Just go to mosque 5 times a day, me nhle with fellow believers. Allah is kind, merciful.He will take you to heaven, what is UK before it?
For me, I think they know something about what is really going on in Zambia. This withdraw can not be happening now when in their home country the infection rate is many times more than in Zambia.
They just don’t want to come out publicly with the truth and be seen to contradict Health personnel in Zambia.
#kaiza, any intelligence office worth his salt would not go round telling every fool that he is OP!, grow up!!
We now have three cases. When is Lungu banning flights from infected countries. If one of these top grz official gets Covid19, there is no evacuation to RSA or India, nimwamene muno.
Lungu please close the borders boss, you know prevention is better than cure. Our healthcare system won’t be able to deal with corona when it fully starts knocking people one by one….ask the South Africans
KKKKKKKKK MMMMMM KKKKKK MOVING YOUR CITIZENS FROM LOWER RIST AREA TO A HIGHER RISK AREA DOES THAT MAKE SENSE. UMUSUNGU WAMUSONKO.