By ADRIAN MWANZA
ZAMBIA is striving to stave off a border dispute with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following tension arising from skirmishes involving some residents of Kaputa being harassed by Congolese soldiers.
And in an exclusive interview, Defence Minister, Ambrose Lufuma acknowledged the reports and that they were in the process of setting up bilateral meetings to resolve the problem.
He said the border issue was a matter of urgency and that the government attached great importance to the matter.
Tension has been brewing between Zambians and their neighbours in the DRC over the borders with most cases ending in altercations between them.
“We have sent security details to Kaputa to ensure the security of the country is secured after a border row between Zambia and the Democratic Republic Congo,” Mr Lufuma has said.
Mr Lufuma said they had received intelligence information that there was tension at the border in Kaputa and that they had arranged a meeting with their Congolese counterparts to ensure that such issues were tabled.
He said the joint Permanent Mission meeting which was supposed to be held earlier would be held next year where the two Defence ministers and their top security officials would meet to iron out the thorny issues.
“We have not decided the exact date but the meeting is likely to be held in the first quarter of next year, so that we can iron out all those pertinent issues that may cause a full blown border row,” Mr Lufuma said.
He said Covid-19 hindered the hosting of the meeting this year but that he was confident that a lasting solution would be found.
Mr Lufuma said the government was aware that some Zambians were being harassed by Congolese law enforcers which was very unfortunate.
BORDER ROW LOOMS : Governments to meet over border row, says Defence minister
