JACK JACOB MWIIMBU TAGS NATIONAL REFUGEES POLICY AS A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO REFUGEE CHALLENGES IN ZAMBIA
Flanked by UNHCR Country Representative, Ms. Preeta Law, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security (MHAIS) Jack Jacob Mwiimbu launching National Refugees Policy
JACK JACOB MWIIMBU TAGS NATIONAL REFUGEES POLICY AS A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO REFUGEE CHALLENGES IN ZAMBIA
JACK JACOB MWIIMBU TAGS NATIONAL REFUGEES POLICY AS A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO REFUGEE CHALLENGES IN ZAMBIA
By Hellen Bwalya 19/01/24
Minister of Home Affairs and International Securities Jacob Jack Mwiimbu says the Zambian Government continues to take strides in contributing to the fight against post-displacements to persons all over the world.
Serving as United Party for National Development (UPND) Monze Central Member of Parliament (MP), in the Southern Province, Mwiimbu says Zambia has a history of hosting refugees that dates as far back as 1940, an open door policy seen by a surge in the number of refugees seeking asylum.
Launching the National Refugee Policy and Implementation Plan; at Lusaka’s New Government Complex on Independence Avenue, Mwiimbu said that it had been observed over the years that despite all strides made as an ‘Oasis of Peace’, Zambia had no National Refugee Policy as a guidance tool.
“Government commitment to ensuring that refugees and other person’s of concern have equitable access to quality services and protection is evident in partnership with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) offering support and assistance to refugees,” noted Mwiimbu stressing the need to prioritise the National Refugee Policy, despite being affiliated to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Refugees Act Number 1 of 2017, drawing a mandate to host and manage refugees.
As Zambia, currently hosts 82,729 refugees in three refugee settlements and in urban areas; Mantapala, Luapula, Meheba in North-Western and Mayukwayukwa in Western Provinces, UNHCR Country Representative, Ms. Preeta Law welcomed the launch of the Policy and described it as a momentous occasion.
Ms. Preeta Law said that the policy aims at ensuring sustainable, long-term solutions for refugees, former refugees and more importantly for their hosting communities.
Ms. Law says early adoption of the comprehensive Refugee Response Framework has demonstrated Zambia’s clear understanding that humanitarian assistance alone is not a sustainable approach in the face of the long-term nature of forced displacement today, as refugees in host communities deserve to thrive.
“The National Refugee Policy and Implementation Plan builds on decades of life-saving work by the Zambian people in opening their doors to those seeking asylum, in refugee protection and assistance and lays a foundation for the country to model an approach that is progressive and demonstrates that the central ambitions of Global Compact on refugees can be achieved,” noted a delighted Ms. Law.
The policy paves the way for harmonization in the regulatory framework aimed at improving Refugees rights and findings local solutions for forcibly displaced persons in Zambia.
Upon assuming office in February 2023, Stanley K. Kakubo, (M.P), then Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation received Letters of Credence from Ms. Preeta Law, Country Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), at Charter House in Lusaka.
Ms. Law was previously deployed in complex humanitarian situations in Myanmar and the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (now a State Union of Serbia and Montenegro), and has held other senior positions in UNHCR, including Deputy Director in the Division of International Protection in UNHCR Headquarters. – Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA).
Upon assuming office in February 2023, Stanley K. Kakubo, (M.P), then Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation received Letters of Credence from Ms. Preeta Law, Country Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), at Charter House in Lusaka.
