Refugees free to stay in Zambia – Lungu

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 13:06:06 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

 REFUGEES are free to stay in Zambia as long as they abide by the laws of the land, says President Edgar Lungu.

And President Lungu said Zambia had been a home to many refugees and that there was nothing wrong with them staying in the country.

The President was speaking to Journalists at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport shortly before his departure for Uganda to attend a Solidarity Summit on Refugees yesterday.

“A person is free to settle in a country of their choice as long as they abide by the host country’s laws. It’s a matter we discussed with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, there is no problem with it.

“Those who have chosen to stay in Zambia, can stay I don’t have a problem with it, they just have to abide by the laws and those who want to go back are free to do so,” he said.

And President Lungu has indicated that Zambia had a lot to learn from Uganda on dealing with issues of refugees.

He said the Uganda solidarity summit on refugees would provide a platform for countries like Zambia which had been hosting refugees for a long time to increase its focus on challenges facing displaced persons.

He has also indicated that his relationship with the international community was still stable.

“Every country has laws and Zambia is no exception. I am still in good terms with the international community,” he said.

The Ugandan Solidarity Summit on refugees is being co-hosted by President Museveni and the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNCFR).

Uganda hosts over 1.2 million refugees, the highest in Africa.