Zambia is ready for influx of refugees, says Shikapwasha

Zambia is ready for influx of refugees, says Shikapwasha
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, November 24, 2008 10:03:54 AM

CHIEF government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has said Zambia is ready to welcome refugees from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In an interview in Lusaka on Friday, Lt Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, described the situation in DRC as fluid.

“It’s a fluid situation; naturally it will affect Zambia, a number of refugees will start trickling to Zambia and we have to work out a situation where the United Nations under the UNHCR [United Nations High Commission for Refugees] should be able to help looking after the refugees,” said Lt Gen Shikapwasha who until last week was minister of home affairs, a ministry which is also responsible for the refugees’ welfare.

“There are already mechanisms that Zambia has had, as you know this is not the first time Zambia will be looking after Congolese refugees. There are measures in Northern Province, Luapula Province and North Western Province to accommodate some of the Congolese refugees that may want to come to Zambia.”

He expressed optimism that the war in DRC would soon be resolved.

“The international community and the AU [African Union] are working on DRC issue. As you saw the former president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo being assisted by the former president of Tanzania Mr [Benjamin] Mkapa are working together to try to bring solutions to DRC,” Lt Gen Shikapwasha said.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha observed that there were inroads that had been made to find a solution to the DRC war crisis.

He said Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries were still discussing the possibilities of sending peacekeepers to the DRC.

“I think it [the deployment of peacekeepers] is not yet concluded. It is still being worked on,” said Lt Gen Shikapwasha.

Rebels loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda have been fighting DRC President Joseph Kabila’s government, creating a humanitarian crisis that has forced thousands of civilians in eastern DRC to flee for safety.