Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation Ambassador Chalwe Lombe says President Edgar Lungu has given people in the diaspora a platform to actively participate in national development through the enactment of the diaspora policy.
And Ambassador Lombe has said that the Government has partnered with International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the implementation of the diaspora policy by providing technical and financial support needed for the operationalization of the policy.
Ambassador Lombe said this when he addressed Zambians in the Diaspora during a diaspora-wide digital Town Hall meeting organised by the High Commission of Zambia to the United Kingdom in partnership with Zambians Together. The meeting centred on the diaspora policy and the work being done towards its implementation.
“His Excellency the President has continued to be a strong advocate for the diaspora, and he wants Zambians living abroad to actively participate in national development. His Excellency the President has stated that the diaspora are not going to be given preference but the diaspora must be given an equal opportunity so that together we can positively contribute to the development and transformation of the country,” he said.
Ambassador Lombe said so far six key areas had been identified in the first phase of the policy implementation, “Access to national documents is one of our priorities in the phase one implementation stage, the second is dual citizenship, we have the law in place, but we still want to fine tune the process to ensure that it is done speedily and with the lest of inconvenience to the people in the diaspora.”
“I want to report to you on the progress we have made in the implementation of the policy. The policy was driven by the desire of government to ensure that the diaspora participate fully in the development of the country at all levels, this document was developed to facilitate and mobilise an effective framework for active, coordinated and coherent activities for participation in the social economic agenda of the country,” he said.
Ambassador Lombe revealed that the policy envisage the establishment of diaspora desks, which will sit in various ministries, stating that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already identified people who were trained from the line ministries – Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health- to handle matters relating to the diaspora.
He added that his ministry would soon launch an online portal and diaspora database as part of the operationalization of the policy.
“In this process, we are involving line Ministries. We have established two desks, one is at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the second one is at the Ministry of Home Affairs, primarily to deal with documents, we want to be able to put a system in place to ensure that we can access our document when we need them and in timeless manner, other desks which will be established include the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Commerce, Higher Education, Tourism and Arts, Labour and Social security Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of health, “ Ambassador Lombe said.
And giving a summary reflection of the diaspora policy Zambians Together Policy and Advocacy Director, Chibwe Masabo Henry said the organization would endeavor to uplift the living standards of Zambians living abroad.
She added that her organization would facilitate for knowledge and skills transfer among Zambian communities in the diaspora and in Zambia.
“Based on how we identify ourselves as an organisation, we are quite keen to see how the Diaspora Policy would align with our objectives that we had conceptualised as the foundation of Zambians Together, and our overall vision of building a strong and connected community within the UK and The Republic of Ireland,” she said.
Lombe and Chibwe are in love. This what we want to see, make love.
It’s too late, clueless Lungu just needs to start preparing to vacate white house next year and go to prison. The Zambian diaspora will work with the next president, most likely HH, instead of this corrupt guy Lungu, who still thinks the diaspora are enemies of Zambia, just because we call out his corruption and ineptness. Why the diaspora policy now, when this guy has been in office for 6 years and has done zero in trying to partner with the diaspora? We the diaspora contribute millions annually, through remittances, to Zambia’s GDP. This guy Lungu is just realizing now, when he only has a few months left in office? Let him just ride into the sunset. We’ll work with the next administration.
Kaizar…comment??
Excellent development. As I have always said, the majority of diasporans are genuinely hard working people who want to see their country develop and have respect for the leadership. The only problem are a tiny minority of diasporans who normally are blogging here and are supporters of upnd. Those ones are evil angry chaps.
Dullness, as if supporting UPND is a crime. Ever heard of democracy. Tulo
Excellent development. As I have always said, the majority of diasporans are genuinely hard working people who want to see their country develop and have respect for the leadership. The only problem are a tiny minority of diasporans who normally are blogging here and are supporters of upnd. Those ones are evil angry chaps. Kz
We are a democracy, let them have their freedom of speech n support whoever they want, it’s their right.
Talk talk and keep talking the diasporan understands better the home left behind in search of opportunities. Participation in development of home is attractive only if what first led to the exodus is addressed. No one would leave what they followed to achieve only to get home and meet with the likes of disparaging Lusambo and his like minded ‘friends’ let alone the general contempt for returnees from the diaspora! There is a lot needed to address and harmonize with attracting back home those in the diaspora!
The truth hurts the PF rats when we say you are marred in corruption up to your necks as evidenced by the 48 ownerless mansions and you are perpertuating the worst management of Zambias economy as evidenced by the all negative economic indicators
Kaizar Zulu, what a two-faced whimper… one day he’s busy insulting every Diaspora there’s and the next he’s smiling and claiming he only meant a few. Himself a Diaspora, he’s busy masquerading as Kaizar Zulu just to feel important.
As for this Diaspora nonsense, without meaningful objectives and commitment to actually make it work, it is another hogwash. Just the mention of Lungu makes the whole thing a total fail and waste.
Start with simple things like stop imposing duty and VAT on simple consumer gifts like laptops. Why would I want to go through some organisation to buy land in Zambia when I can go and be a headman in my village? Malabishi!
Useless, advocate for thieves. The economy on ventilators the president is drinking White collar kachasu!
Piyefool must go!
Kaizer is indeed a shallow & hollow mind. Incosistent & incoherent. Can’t say more.
“His Excellency the President”. His Excellency? Should be his “Accidency” Edgar Lungu. Diaspora ” can positively contribute to the development and transformation of the country” only once imbecilic Lungu policies have have been mopped away. No Zambian since the republic has contributed singulary to the destruction of our country as Lungu has done. The best Diaspora can do to contribute—in fact to save the country–is first to vote out PF/Lungu by all means possible. Lungu and his unpatriotic party is as cluelessless as reckless. Lungu’s litany of tragic errors (rogue interference with institutions of the state, corruption, incompetency and lawless) deserve immediate, massive and whole-hearted corrective actions by Diaspora by embracing the alternative vision of the…
“… opposition and to stop this thuggery and further wasted years of development under Edgar Lungu.So painful to watch Lungu’s incompetency.
@ Kaizar Zulu i thought you’re in charge of the Diasporans since you’re also holed up in a small government house in the UK surviving on Government handouts
We are watching the talk. We are waiting for the action. Emulate Ethiopia, Ghana and Rwanda. You only benefit if you are PF abroad.
East London council flat tenant zip it.
So why can’t you give them voting rights like prisoners.
QUESTION TO THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS IN PARLIAMENT: How many Zambians who lost their citizenship in the diaspora and have applied for dual citizenship and how many have been granted? How many have been denied and for what reasons?
If we had real MPs in parliament they would have asked this question.
@Socrates, they do not have that information because of the corruption from staff in missions and the National Registration, Passport and Citizenships Office. As soon as you give a kani cekeleko, everything is resolved. So, wenye, boza, bufi, no one is a strong advocate for the diaspora. Everyone sees them as a walking bag of money.
These so-called ambassadors jus want SEER 1’s attention!
One minute am a poor guy apparently living in UK, the next you call me a thief who is one of richest people in Zambia. Do you see your lives now ba upnd? Dreamers
Kazier Zulu as special assistant to your boye President your comments on this platform on diasporans has left us wondering why you have been allowed to go on as a civil servant without consequences. Because your conduct amounts to abuse of diasporans you are literally promoting discrimination. Surely the law does not allow discrimination.
@ mavhuto also the law does not allow for insulting our president. I have no problem with majority of diasporans who are level headed patriotic people who are helping the economy here. What I don’t agree with are the majority of silly upnd biased diasporan bloggers here who insult the government day in and out. I cannot respect such f00ls
Most diasporans are Tonga because they have been neglected at home.
Most diasporans are Tonga because they are very much neglected at home
@ Mooya I dont agree with you lies. Record has it that there are so many zambians from different background especially here in the UK and stop lying that the large majority of Zambian diasporans areTongas .Ubo ebufi wayamba .
Kainyokolola Zulu must watch this space, come 2021 your High Accidency Jameson Chakolwa Lungu will lose, get tried & be given a first class hanging for exposing us to a stinking kleptocracy. You Kainyokolola, will be shot, kanyo ka mambala wa muntu wena.