Government has set into motion enhanced action on implementation of the diaspora policy in order to expand and realize the enormous potential that Zambians abroad have.
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ambassador Chalwe Lombe says the greater contribution of Zambians living in other countries can make a huge impact on Zambia’s development, hence the need to accelerate implementation.
Ambassador Lombe reiterated that government recognized the major socio-economic benefits that can be realized from the diaspora.
Ambassador Lombe said against a background of creating a conducive environment for Zambians living abroad, the government had targeted aggressive engagement of the Zambian diaspora to expand implementation of the policy. In that light, Six (6) out of the 13 major objectives of the policy which was launched in April 2019 were identified for urgent implementation. The six include enhancing diaspora remittances to Zambia, easing access to national documents, establishment of Diaspora Focal Point Desks, knowledge and skills transfer in the diaspora community, setting up of a comprehensive online portal and data base as a marketplace for the diaspora as well as establishment of dedicated communication tools through WhatsApp and email.
Focal Point desks to specifically deal with diaspora matters would be operationalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs while all Zambian missions abroad would follow suit and have dedicated staff to diligently deal with diaspora matters.
The enhanced implementation of the policy is set to maximize the potential economic and social benefits from the diaspora.
Ambassador Lombe was speaking during a Diaspora Clinic with staff of Zambians abroad in the Americas on Wednesday during which he urged them to positively pursue engagement of all Zambians abroad.
“The Information portal is coming online soon; that is a market place where the diaspora can engage and even ask questions on all matters affecting them,” Ambassador Lombe said adding that Focal Point Desks would be launched over the coming weeks with dedicated WhatsApp numbers and email addresses for prompt engagement with the diaspora.
According to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG), remittances sent by migrants to their families are fundamental for governments, international organizations and other partners in realizing their sustainable development objectives.
Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Lazarous Kapambwe and staff at the Mission in Washington were joined in the meeting by Zambian missions in New York led by Zambia’s UN envoy Ambassador Ngosa Simbyakula, the Canadian High Commission Canada and Ambassador Alfreda Kansembe and the Mission in Brazil.
Awe just stay over there in Lusaka with your Lusambo, keep out of diaspora…. Diaspora don’t visit Zambia ever since Sata died. They are still waiting for a better government. Lusambo madafaka insulted the diaspora…
Nostradamus and the rest of the evil hateful diasporans this policy does not apply to useless people like you. You can keep your meagre pay. You need it more than us. We don’t expect you to contribute to national development when you cannot even help your own relative here. This is aimed at those diasporans with substance and who remain patriotic. The likes of nine chale and diasporan lady. The upnd diasporan most of them are just angry and probably leaching off state benefits there abroad. Kz
Five years just talking. Meanwhile, we have a former Presidential aide but still very close to State House who continues to show disdain for Zambians in the diaspora.
@KZ and diasporans. Interesting relationship.
You will find out that you can’t bribe most diaspora to turn a blind eye to your utter incompetence and lazyness …
We work on clockwork guided by the rule of law ……..
We have head this like 5 years now. Now we see its about “remitting” to Zambia. You have mismanaged the economy. Now you pray to the diasporas that you insult every time to come to your rescue. Good luck with that one. I can’t speak for everyone.
This is great…..lets take advantage and start projects back home like West Africans who are very Patriotic and build mansions in their home country….Zambians in the diaspora just too much blah blah blah…nothing to show for
there is loadshedding in zambia everyday…in woodlands sometimes uptown 24 hours a day…let the diaspora folks stay where there is power for zambia has failed to provide its people basic need such as electricity, I need to join diaspora
What a joke. When elections come then we are important. Don’t need any of you wankers in my life
The silly season is here and now we important
@ spaka clock work ulepipa amafl yaba nkote.
Look guys, I don’t have a problem with diasporans. The only ones I have issues with are the hateful unpatriotic ones who happen to be majority upnd supporters. They know who they are. If you see some one negatively reacting to my comment then know that is one of them.
@ the saint get it right. I don’t show disdain to all zambian in diaspora. Just a minority of evil hateful upnd supporting jokers like nostradamus, HAtarino, HAspaka etc. Majority of diasporans are patriotic hard working zambians. Not those hateful chaps who probably are still fighting for their stays there abroad without legal documents
Please just drop this. 5 years and you still can’t implement a straight forward policy? Rwanda allows its diaspora to vote in elections for example, but you have denied this right to the diaspora and instead you want to mention remittances? Lets not even talk your inability to handle passport renewals after all these years.
HAliboma you are the hateful diasporans I am talking about. Keep your small change. You are earning minimum wage yet you want to act like you are a high earner.
Kaizar Zulu that is really a s i l l y thing to do. There are more UPND supporters in Zambia than there are in the diaspora so, why do those who are in the diaspora provoke your ire? besides, don’t people have liberty to speak their minds just like YOU do? Or are you the only one who should speak? As an independent observer, I find that you all trade in_sults each and every day. You debate personalities and never facts. Learn from your Nkhosi ya ma Nkhosi.
Excellent move!! I for one support this 100% and continue to remit my money into my accounts in mother Zambia. I hope other disaporans are also doing the same, let us love and contribute to our country’s economy, c’mmon guys!!!!
No data here, try something else! Make Kaizer Sulu the ambassador of diasporas. He understands them well and relates fairly well with them. It can work!!
They will come if you make a ministry of diaspora and appoint KZ to be minister
Really, what are they trying to do here? Instead of me sending my money to my old mum, they want me to send to them at this Diaspora desk, they grab 30% through their ‘nchekeleko’ culture and hand over the remainder to my mum? Wrong… Western Union already veat you to it.
And they to sell you land you can’t even see, no address, that they have already sold to more than 5 people at exorbitant prices and charge in dollars?
And you want to connect with them so you can victimize their families when they criticize you?
Get real! Zambia is not Kenya or Nigeria because we are still very connected to our families who can run errands (not trustworthy enough but better than this corrupt government). Those disconnected will have nothing to do with the country.
Perhaps a desk to renew…
Perhaps a desk to renew passports.
You want proper Diaspora contributions? Eliminate all taxes on all non business gifts; bring your interest rates down to enable borrowing easier and repayments cheaper; allow them to vote; digitize everything; put tgem in consultation and advisory roles in govt institutions and boards and listen to the free advice. Above all eliminate all the corruption embedded in every fibre of society. Talk is cheap!
Leave us alone, we went out on our own with our own resources.
We don’t want your Zambian Government incompetence and mediocre involvement
@ ZambianGovt @Kaizar Zulu, leave the “f” us alone. Hot markets for investments in Africa are Ghan and Namibia. Have lost complete trust in the Zambian Govt, they can’t even control the price of copper. London Metal Exchange, is a copper mine in London. Forget about us all, you never sponsored us.
I think it’s a step forward, what we need to do is come up with a plan on how we can contribute to the energy sector
Nkana go and comment on ghana times. What you doing here