Angolan refugees to lose refugee status on Jun 30

Angolan refugees to lose refugee status on Jun 30
By Moses Kuwema
Sun 24 June 2012, 13:28 CAT

HOME affairs deputy minister Dr Ngosa Simbyakula says immigration and citizenship laws will begin to apply on all Angolan refugees living in Zambia after June 30.

In an interview with journalists after the reception to mark the world refugee day at the Swedish ambassador's residence on Friday, Dr Simbyakula said after June 30 all Angolan refugees would seize to be refugees.

"Those who qualify will be able to apply and we will consider their applications and then for the others they will need to regularise their stay here with the help of their governments. There are various permits one can obtain in order to be in Zambia, resident permits, study permits or business permits," Dr Simbyakula said.

But United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) country representative Joyce Mends-Cole said her organisation would want the return of refugees to be their choice.

Mends-Cole said the refugees had lived in Zambia over the years and had become Zambians in their hearts and minds.

"We are saying to the government, can you consider some of these people who have shown their love for Zambia and that they are contributing already to the continuing development of Zambia. They want to be here, it's not as if they don't like Angola, they had to flee at a certain time and some of them are no longer familiar with Angola and some have never seen Angola because they were born here," Mends-Cole said.

Mends-Cole said she was hopeful that local integration would become an actuality but that she would want to defer everything to the Zambian government, who would tell her when this was going to happen.

During the same event, Swedish ambassador to Zambia Lena Nordstrom said her country would remain open and tolerant to citizens who would wish to seek asylum in her country.

And Jacob Mphepo, the commissioner for refugees and ministry of home affairs were presented with the plaques of appreciation for the role they continue to play in Zambia's hosting of refugees.