By CLEVER ZULU –
ZAMBIA will hand over Angolans who are in Zambian prisons following a treaty signed between the two countries in 2009.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Gerry Chanda said Zambia currently has 27 Angolans in prisons countrywide.
“In our custody we have 27 Angolan prisoners but only 18 are affected by the treaty that was signed in 2009 and are ready to be repatriated,” Colonel Chanda said.
Col Chanda said one prisoner had since died while three had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment by President Edgar Lungu during the May 20, 2015 presidential pardon.
“It is a good gesture by President Edgar Lungu, so we must cement many more fields of corporation because Zambia and Angola are like one country,” he said.
Angolan State Secretary Jose Bamoquina Zau said his coming to Zambia was based on the willingness that prisoners should be exchanged between the two countries.
“My coming marks the final stage of the agreement signed in 2009. We are ready to implement it without leaving anything,” Mr Zau said.
He said the support from Zambia should continue as was the support that was given to Angola to repatriate Angolan refugees that wanted to go back home.
“We have been receiving this warm support from Zambia and enjoyed it during the repatriation of refugees and the integration of refugees that wanted to be integrated into Zambia,” he said.
