The Zambian Minister of Foreign affairs, Hon. Harry Kalaba, is visiting Rwanda from 06 to 09 June, 2015. During his three-day visit, he will hold bilateral talks with her Rwandan counterpart Minister Louise Mushikiwabo and also meet different Rwandan officials. He will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Rwanda free trade zone.
The visit of Minister Harry Kalaba aims at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between Rwanda and Zambia.
Rwanda and Zambia build their partnership throughout joint permanent commission (JPC), International and Regional meetings and different official visits. Rwanda recently opened up a High Commission in Lusaka, and Zambia is represented to Rwanda by its High Commission with residence in Dar Es Salaam. It is important to recall that the route KIGALI-LUSAKA by RwandAir was officially launched on 24th April 2015.
Rwanda-Zambia bilateral relations
Rwanda and Zambia, both Commonwealth member countries enjoy good relations and support each other in terms of International and Regional meetings. Rwanda is represented to Zambia by its freshly Mission in Lusaka, and Zambia to Rwanda by Zambian High Commission with residence in Dar Es Salaam. The Ambassador of Zambia to Rwanda Her Excellency Judith KANGOMA presented her credential letters in December 2012.
After 1994 the two countries revived ties by conducting High level and working visits in each other’s capital. The last 5th Joint Permanent Commission was held in Lusaka from 14th to 15th October, 2010 and agreed up on various areas of cooperation such as trade and industry, communications and transport, agriculture, mining and culture as well as refugees and immigration.
Former Rwandan refugees in Zambia
The Cessation Clause for Rwandan refugees which took effect on June 30, 2013 affected more than 4000 Rwandan refugees living in Zambia. In a bilateral meeting held in Lusaka from July 4-5, 2013, the two countries agreed to join their efforts to facilitate former Rwandan refugees to get alternative legal status in line with the durable solutions stipulated in the Cessation Clause including voluntary repatriation or local integration in the asylum country.
It was noted that voluntary repatriation remain open and efforts to encourage it will continue, though former Rwandan refugees who wish to stay in Zambia will be facilitated by both Governments to get Rwandan national passports and consular cards in order to facilitate processing and issuance of immigration permits in Zambia.
Passport Application Forms for Rwandan former refugees are available in Zambia through the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) and online to ensure easy access for applicants to local integration.
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