Parliament today heard that 860 Diplomatic Passports were issued between 2001 and 2005, out of which, 163 were withdrawn.
Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Grace Njapau, said in 2001 and 2004, 200
Diplomatic Passports were issued for each year, while 150 were issue in 2002 and
another 150 in 2003.
In 2005, 160 Diplomatic Passports were issued.
Ms. Njapau said of the 160 withdrawn Diplomtic Passports, 13 were withdrawn in 2001,
70 in 2002, 19 in 2003, 23 in 2004 and 38 in 2005.
She was answering a question raised by Kasama Central Patriotic Front Member of
Parliament, Saviour Chishimba on how many Diplomatic Passports were issued and
withdrawn between 2001 and 2005.
Meanwhile, Ms. Njapau told parliament that a total of 3,957,000 foreigners were
arrested for various criminal offences between the years 2000 and 2006 in Zambia.
She said most of the arrested foreigners were from African countries while others
were from Aisa, Europe and America.
She was responding to a question raised by Dundumwezi independent MP, Edgar
Singombe, who wanted to know how many foreign criminals were arrested from 2000 to
2006 and when the Immigration Department would be provided with firearms.
Ms. Njapau said government has no plans to provide the department with firearms for
its officers to be able to defend themselves because these were protected by the
Zambia Police officers.
She explained that the nature of the work of immmigration officers does not require
them to carry firearms.
what is or was the criteria used to issue these pasports, that was the question the MP was suppossed to ask also .
What was the value in the question , will it put food on the table?Yes they are not usually checked and we may be deprived of customs but really…..