The Congolese Government has thanked President Banda and the Zambian community for hosting the Congolese refugees over the years.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga Province Vice Governor, Yav Tshibal, however, urged the Congolese refugees in Zambia not to overstay but to consider returning home because there was peace as stipulated under the current voluntary repatriation plan.
To date, over 15,600 Congolese refugees have returned home. The Congolese nationals are being repatriated by both road and water using boats from Mpulungu Harbour and by road.
Mr Tshibal made the remarks at Mwange refugee camp in Mporokoso district in Northern Province when a delegation of senior DRC Government officials from Lubumbashi and Kinshasa conferred with the refugees as part of information campaign to sensitize them to return home.
Mr Tshibal expressed confidence that the repatriation exercise will be successfully conducted and come to an end in 2009.
“I wish to thank President Banda and the Zambian community for hosting our brothers and sisters from my home country over the years. Now that there is peace back home, you should not over stay in Zambia but you are welcome back home,” advised the Vice Governor.
He assured the refugees that the DRC Government, working with other co-operating partners, is trying to ensure their smooth re-integration upon returning home in addressing challenges when back home.
Mr Tshibal appealed to the donor community to increase their support to the re-integration programme in DRC.
Secretary General (Permanent Secretary) in the DRC Ministry of Interior, Xavier Mirindi Kiriza, also commended the pace of the Congolese repatriation from Zambia.
The Secretary General urged the UNHCR and the Zambian Government to mobilize enough logistics to ensure that more Congolese refugees repatriate before the end of the year.
And UNHCR Head of Sub Office based in Kawambwa district, Phillippe Creppy, assured the refugees that his agency would assist all the refugees that come forward to repatriate.
Mr Creppy added that now that the rains have started, weather and other logistical conditions permitting will be organized soon before the end of this year.
The Congolese repatriation is being conducted by the Zambian Government in conjunction with the UNHCR, the international Organisation for Migration and World Food Programme.
Last year 9,700 Congolese refugees returned home from Zambia, while 7,323 repatriated in 2007.
ZANIS
On behalf of the Zambian community, Nine Chale says you’re welcome – the Congolese are our brothers & sisters, not so bloggers?
chale you’re right they are our brothers & sisters.
Guys you are welcome and hope you wont be mistreating our brothers and sisters that come to your country to visit or business trips okay.
Atleast you enjoyed with our pleasure and gone home with good memories.
Ok bana congo pa z nizi
Its about time someone acknowledged the good work Zambians have done over the years at great expense. We hosted ANC, SWAPO, et al. We have never been hostile or xenophobic to foreigners. We need to build on this friendliness by doing business with all these people since there has been a foundation laid down and trust exists. People from Zimbabwe never liked Zambians (calling us thieves) but when their economy imploded we never gave them a cold shoulder. They are our brothers and sisters. Moving forward we can work together with our neighbors and make this region prosperous. However, there is a serious challenge of few leaders that one can term “nation builders”. Instead we have thieves dressed in suits running the show. Until that happens we will see little progress.
#5 True that my brotha. In fact, these congolese are so close to us, in 1991, we even let one of them be president of Zambia.
Nina Chale I am with u
you are very welcome!!! jus remember us when you start prospering!! we aint looking for hand outs! jus don’t attack us if we ever come to your country to look for jobs or do business like some countries!!
Take those refugees back to your country. you are deliberately impoverishing our country by fighting for nothing like I.D.I.O.TS. Start using your heads instead killing each other due to greed.
Hope these pipo have learnt lesson. Our pipo faced serious harassment from Zaire and Zimbabwean pipo during cross border trading the time these two countries were doin fine. For Zimbabwe, my friends father was made to stand in the sun with the box of magarine that he bought for no reason and asked him to take it and pass after it had melted. For congo it was worse, Kasumbalesa boarder post was a nitemare. Anyway, lets help bcoz they are human beings, otherwize……To Zimbabwean wh*res, thanx for stiff competition. Better TV!