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Zambia: Weather Zim Storm, Angola Urges Levy
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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
8 May 2008
Posted to the web 8 May 2008
Ndola
ANGOLA's national director in the ministry of assistance and social reinsertion (MINARS) has implored President Mwanawasa to continue with his efforts in finding a lasting solution to the post-election impasse in Zimbabwe.
Nisla Batalha said Zambia had been instrumental in finding solutions to many problems in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
It was, therefore, important that Dr Mwanawasa as SADC chairperson continued with his efforts in resolving the impasse in Zimbabwe.
She said this in Lusaka yesterday when she paid a courtesy call on Home Affairs Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha.
Zambia, Dr Batalha said, had made strides in ensuring that peace in the region prevailed and was sure that a solution would be found in the case of Zimbabwe.
"We have commended President Mwanawasa as chairman of SADC for his efforts to find peace in Zimbabwe and call on him to continue with the same efforts so that peace in that country could prevail," she said.
She commended Zambia for efforts in assisting the refugees.
Earlier, Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha commended the Angolan government for its bold decision to ensure that refugees returned home.
He said that both the Zambian Government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) would complement the efforts.
He said Zambia would continue to support the repatriation exercise of refugees to Angola so that they could contribute to rebuilding their country, which experienced war for over 30 years.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta has said peace in Angola will call for the possible invocation of cessation clauses of refugee conventions.
Ms Sikaneta said that this should be so in order to include Angolan refugees in the clauses.
She was speaking during the Zambia-Angola United Nations High Commission for Refugees tripartite meeting in Lusaka.
"My Government is challenged with the legal implications of such a move, given the fact that durable solutions have yet to be secured for this entire case-load," Ms Sikaneta said.
Despite the end of the civil war in Angola and the existing conducive environment in that country, more Angolan refugees are still living in Zambia.
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Ms Sikaneta said that with the collaboration of the UNHCR and the financial assistance from the Danish government, under the 'Strengthening Protection Capacity Project', the registration exercise for refugees was embarked upon.
Speaking earlier, UNHCR regional representative for Pretoria, Sanda Kimbimbi said the return of Angolan refugees to their country was the major priority for UNHCR.
He said that the task to return the refugees was made easier following the cooperation between the Government of Zambia and Angola.
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