from ARNOLD MULENGA in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – ZAMBIA, the country credited with supporting the liberation of South Africa from apartheid, is facilitating the voluntary repatriation of its nationals wishing to return home following anti-immigration protests.
The repatriation is being coordinated through the Office of the Vice President, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Zambia High Commission in Pretoria.
Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation, said the mission continued to closely monitor developments in collaboration with the relevant South African authorities.
Last month, 47 Zambian nationals were repatriated from South Africa under the ongoing programme through collaboration among the various government entities.
On Saturday, teams from the Zambia High Commission were deployed to Durban and East London in South Africa to assist Zambian nationals and coordinate the repatriation exercise.
To date, more than 100 Zambians have registered their intention to return home, Gundersen disclosed.
Zambia and local stakeholders are facilitating the repatriation of the registered nationals in collaboration with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and other relevant agencies.
“The government wishes to assure members of the public that no Zambian national has been reported injured in connection with the anti-immigration protests,” Gundersen added.
Zambia, formerly Northern Rhodesia, played a foundational role in South Africa’s liberation by serving as a primary sanctuary, political headquarters and military training base for exiled freedom fighters.
Under the leadership of then-President Kenneth Kaunda, it absorbed immense economic retaliation from apartheid forces in solidarity with the struggle.
– CAJ News