7 February 2008
Ndola — FOUR of the 27 Zambian fishermen who were allegedly detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) escaped from their captors on Tuesday night.
Nchelenge District Commissioner, Wilson Kasoloko, confirmed the development in an interview yesterday. Mr Kasoloko said four of the 27 fishermen escaped from where they had been held for three weeks.
He said the number of the fishermen being held was likely to rise from the initial 27.
Mr Kasoloko said it was reported on Monday that eight fishermen were picked on January 9, but that he had come to learn that the actual number of fishermen picked on that particular day was 22.
He said 18 were picked up on January 4, out of which two were released while six more were later picked, bringing the number to over 30.
Mr Kasoloko was yesterday scheduled to go to Mukwakwa to meet the four fishermen and obtain first-hand information on the where-abouts of the other detained Zambian fishermen.
Meanwhile, Government has opened discussions with DRC authorities over the release of the fishermen.
Defence Minister, George Mpombo, called for calm among family members of the fishermen and assured that Government was working around the clock to ensure that they were released.
He said preliminary investigations showed that the Zambians were found fishing on the Congolese side where, just like on the Zambian side of Lake Mweru, a fish ban is still in effect.
The armed men holding the fishermen since the beginning of the year claim to be that country's security officials carrying out several incursions into the Zambian side of Lake Mweru.
The officials, with the help of speed boats, cross into Zambia where they apprehend and take for detention anyone they suspected of violating the annual fish ban currently in force.
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