By SIMON MUNTEMBA
GOVERNMENT has developed guidelines for the acquisition of national documents to resolve challenges experienced by Zambians living abroad whenever seeking to replace or acquire new documents.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, in charge of International Relations and Cooperation, Chalwe Lombe, said his ministry has, in the first phase, focused on eliminating delays in the issuance of national documents such as national registration cards and passports.
He said this was aimed at ensuring that the diaspora was fully engaged with the country
Mr Lombe said this during a digital meeting organised by the Zambian Embassy in Stockholm with Zambians living in the Nordic region.
This is according to a statement made available by Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer, Chansa Kabwela.
Mr Lombe was the Keynote speaker at the event meant to sensitise the Zambian community in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland on the diaspora policy which was launched in April 2019.
He said the Government’s commitment to engage the diaspora has been exemplified through the delivery of the Dual Citizenship provision in the Constitution as well as the Diaspora Policy.
Mr Lombe noted that all the information required to acquire national documents had been consolidated and that the guidelines and procedures for the acquisition of national documents will be launched soon.
“We have now developed guidelines and procedures for the acquisition of national documents which is a novel idea. All the information has been put together we even have a Q&A with accompanying answers. This is one of the things we are doing to facilitate information provision for the diaspora,” he said.
Mr Lombe further informed the meeting that his ministry with the support of the International Organisation for Migration has engaged the Bank of Zambia, and the Ministry of Finance to commission a Remittance Study for the diaspora.
He said the database was critical as it will help the Government target skilled Zambians from various parts of the world.
The Permanent Secretary urged Zambians working in international organisations and were seeking higher positions to indicate their plans to Government.
On land acquisition, he noted that the Diaspora Policy would provide information so that Zambians living outside the country could receive equal opportunities when land became available.
