Thirty Seven Zambian Nationals resident in LIBYA have been successfully evacuated into Zambia following violent protests by Libyans against their leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
The evacuees arrived at LUSAKA’s international airport aboard a Zambezi Chartered plane around 07:35 hours yesterday morning.
Among those evacuated was Zambia National Soccer Team player, Felix Katongo and his wife Mwaka, a former television presenter.
The Zambian nationals evacuated from Libya say they are traumatised by events in the oil-rich North African country and are relieved to be back home.
“Seeing blood on the streets and some people dying on queues at the Airport in Libya is something I never thought I will ever witness,” one of the evacuees who declined to be named told the Daily Mail.
Another evacuee, whose identity could not be revealed, said he witnessed an Egyptian who was ill die in the queue because he could not push through the crowd to seek medical attention.
“There was some resentment towards the Egyptian because some people felt what was happening in Libya was the fault of the Egyptians,” he said.
Recently, Egyptians managed to end President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule after relentless protests that lasted 18 days.
Protests have been taking place in Libya against the leadership of President Muammar Gaddafi.
According to some harrowing accounts by the Zambians who were evacuated, the protests started somewhere close to their homes which they fled as their safety could not be guaranteed. They said a few days before the demonstrations started, they noticed Libyans assembling at the Green square in the capital Tripoli to start their protests.
“Zambia is a peaceful country, we should not take things for granted,” one of them said as the others nodded.
“We were at the airport by 12:00 hours but only boarded the flight at 17:00 hours. Some of us did not think we would see our families again, because of the tension. We can’t believe we are home. We are happy, we are so glad, we are even short of words to express ourselves,” they said.
Zambezi Airlines chief executive officer Wilfred Amstelveen, who flew to Tripoli on the chartered flight, said the 36-hour trip was filled with uncertainty.
He said he decided to accompany the crew because of the importance of the mission. Mr Amstelveen said the crew left on Saturday around 01:00 hours via Abuja to Algiers then Tripoli.
The plane had to refuel in Abuja and Algiers because the crew was not sure of the possibility of refuelling at Tripoli International Airport.
He said the crew had to ensure there was adequate fuel to fly the Zambians back home.
“We got to Tripoli at the height of tension and we were not sure of being able to buy fuel from there,” he said.
He said when the crew landed in Libya, Tripoli International Airport was crowded with other planes trying to get different nationals out of that country.
“We waited and waited and waited – from 15:00 hours and we only left at 18:00 hours,” he said.
The crew had to present its flight plan three times before it was accepted by the Libyan authorities at the airport.
“I am grateful to the Zambian government for their support. As Zambezi Airlines, we are proud that Zambians are home safely. We never thought we could accomplish this mission,” he said.
Another crew member who declined to give an interview simply said: “I am just glad to be home. It has been a hell of an experience.”
Welcoming the Zambians, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande said President Banda has had sleepless nights over the safety of the Zambians.
Mr Pande, who was accompanied by officials from his Ministry and others from the Disaster Management Mitigation Unit (DMMU) cheered and clapped as the plane touched down at 07:35 hours.
He said the President would have loved to welcome the Zambians if he was not in Eastern Province.
“He will certainly meet you at a later stage,” Mr Pande told the tired and anxious-looking evacuees.
He said he telephoned President Banda to inform him about the arrival of the Zambians and the President was very excited.
“We should thank God for his travelling mercies,” he said.
Mr Pande said the Zambians should not worry about where to be accommodated because government has already put measures in place.
The Minister announced at a press briefing on Saturday that government had chartered a plane to evacuate Zambians from Libya.
However, the Ambassador and a few support staff remained at the embassy to monitor the situation in Libya.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
