President Lungu applauds Uganda’s refugee support
By Derrick Sinjela
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu says the rapid increase in refugees from South Sudan, has put to test the resilience of the Ugandan Government’s open door policy and the hospitality, reports Pan African Radio 105.1FM Journalist Derrick Sinjela.
In a Uganda Solidarity Summit on Refugees Intervention Statement, at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda on Friday, 23rd June 2017, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu said Zambia recognises sacrifices that the people and government of Uganda in hosting over one million (1,000,000) refugees.
The High Level Dialogue is being hosted by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, President Lungu expressed gratitude to organizers for undertaking an onerous responsibility of reflecting and sharing experiences on the implementation of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework in Uganda.
Alluding to Zambia’s previous record of three hundred thousand (300,000) refugees, President Lungu
applauded the innovative approaches that Uganda has adopted in responding to increased pressure of hosting refugees.
KK with President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and President Rupiah Bwezani Banda mourn Salome Kapwepwe Sat 13 May 2017
Meanwhile, President Lungu says Zambia is ready to share expertise on refugee protection, on account of being a longstanding home to refugees for over fifty (50) years.
Zambia is currently implementing phase two of a model local integration programme for former Angolan and Rwandan refugees not willing to return to their countries of origin and considering extending the offer of local integration to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) refugees domiciled in Zambia for 10 years or more.
Preaching the spirit of ‘Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism, President Lungu reaffirms its commitments made in September, 2016 at the New York leaders’ summit, to maintain an open door policy and ensure that refugees are protected and have access to education and livelihood opportunities.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
Still on refugees, President Edgar Lungu has assented to a new law creating a conducive environment for refugees living in Zambia, says Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Lawrence Sichalwe.
Officiating in Kalumbila District during the 2017 World Refugees Day, Mr. Sichalwe said the Refugee Control Act of 1970 has been replaced by the progressive Refugees Act Number One of 2017, now guaranteeing refugees right to free primary education.
And United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Country Representative Laura Lo Castro thanked Government for continuing to host refugees.
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