By CHARITY MOONGA –

THE Parliamentary committee on foreign affairs has called for a clear legal framework in the local integration of more than 10,000 Angolan refugees living in Zambia.

The members of the committee urged Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary George Zulu to domesticate the international protocols to safeguard the country.

They said the heavy reliance on international protocols and conventions in the integration of the Angolan refugees was insufficient.

Mr Zulu agreed that the international protocols were not enough but pledged Government commitment to ensure the exercise was successful.

He said the Zambian Government was working with the Angolan Government and United Nations High Commission for Refugees, (UNHCR) in screening the said Angolans and taking care of their livelihoods.

Mr Zulu said the Government was working with the Angolan Government to scale-up economic interventions in border areas to facilitate cross border trade for development.

He cited the Libungu/Shangombo projects as one such project between the two countries that had materialised.

And Mr Zulu has told the committee that Zambia has received a favourable report on the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

He said Zambia was among the 10 countries that had been surveyed under the APRM so far and it had received a favourable report.

“Zambia was peer reviewed, rigorously checked in all major areas in 2013 and the report was favourable and in favour of the country,” Mr Zulu said.

Meanwhile, Government has set aside K2 billion to rehabilitate infrastructure in foreign missions.

Mr Zulu said the Ministry of Finance had earmarked the funds to improve infrastructure in the foreign missions which included Addis Ababa, New York and Lubumbashi.
The Government had also agreed to procure mortgages in foreign missions to cut down on rentals in foreign missions.

He said Government was also working at harmonising salaries for diplomats with the current existing ones in Zambia to ensure that diplomats were not languishing and did not become destitute due to lack of funds.
Former Home Affairs Minister and Keembe Member of Parliament Ronnie Shikapwasha, who is chairperson of the committee expressed concern at the continued suffering of Zambian diplomats accredited to Europe and America who had been reduced to beggars due to among others, high medical insurance.

Mr Zulu said globally the cost of living was very high, so the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wanted to ensure Zambian missions were comfortable.