Zambian President Lungu committed to diaspora – Lombe

By Masuzyo Chakwe | The Mast Online

The permanent secretary of the Zambian MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs, Chalwe Lombe says President Edgar Lungu’s commitment to the Zambian diaspora is noticeable through some unprecedented milestones that include the enactment and operationalisation of the Diaspora Policy. He said this during a Town-hall meeting of Zambians living in the United States of America and other parts of the Americas

Ambassador Lombe said President Lungu was committed to the welfare of Zambians abroad and his commitment is demonstrated by the milestones that government has scored in engaging citizens abroad.

He said the milestones that spoke to the commitment of President Lungu’s government included delivery of the promise to enact dual citizenship into law and first-time action to offer support, including budgetary provisions to back Zambians seeking appointments in international organisations.

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“There are three things, three milestones that we would like to attribute to the government of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu since coming to office. In this administration, we have delivered dual citizenship. President Lungu promised it to Zambians when he met them in the US and he has delivered dual citizenship to the Zambians. This government listened to the voices of Zambians who had spoken for decades and said that they wanted dual citizenship,” he said.

“In the history of Zambia, there has never been a diaspora policy. In this government, a diaspora policy has been enacted and passed by government. That is a milestone that has taken place and the reason we are having this town hall meeting is part of the implementation of the diaspora policy.”

He said another key aspect of support to Zambians abroad was emphasising “for the first time the placement of Zambians in international organisations.

He said whenever there was requirement for an endorsement of a Zambian candidate, government had offered to support that candidature even with financial support.

Ambassador Lombe encouraged Zambians in the diaspora to continue to engage government and the Missions abroad to advance their growth and national development.

He emphasised the significance of utilising the various technological and communication tools to deal with various aspects of the Diaspora policy as well as engaging the government.

Chief Passport and Citizenship Officer Emmanuel Tembo took the Zambians abroad through the various processes of obtaining national documents, dual citizenship and the commitment of the department to serve Zambians at home and abroad speedily.

Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Lazarous Kapambwe reiterated that the Embassy in Washington DC was open for all Zambians and encouraged them to support the drive to register and create a data-base of all Zambians in the US.

The Zambia Association Network of the United States (ZANUS) president Noah Ndlovu commended the government for the diaspora policy implementation drive.

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Ndlovu and his counterpart at the Organisation of Zambians in the United States (OZA), Matilda Mwaba Lucas, expressed confidence that interactions through town-hall meetings would help open up more avenues for Zambians abroad to enhance their contribution to the development of the country.

The town-hall was attended by dozens of Zambians in the United states, Belize, Brazil, Canada and Panama.

This is according to a statement issued by Eric Mwansa, first secretary press and PR at Zambia’s Embassy in Washington DC.

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