{{Zambia’s Home Affairs Edgar Lungu says Government and Rwandan authorities will convene in South Africa next week to discuss the June 31, 2013 deadline given to Rwandan refugees to return to their country.}}

Mr Lungu said the meeting has been called to chart the way forward as the deadline is fast approaching.

“Authorities from Zambia are going to hold a meeting in South Africa next week,” he said.

Mr Lungu said this yesterday when he received a US$3 million cheque donated by the Japanese government to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help in the refugee project in Zambia.

He said there is nothing wrong to postpone the deadline if other issues have not been resolved by the two governments and UNHCR officials.
And Mr Lungu said Government is committed to honouring the pledge made in Geneva in December 2011 to locally integrate 10,000 former refugees from Angola and that the process started in October 2012.

He said the donation by the Japanese government is key in supporting efforts in Zambia to actualise the local integration solution for former Angolan refugees in Zambia.

“I call on other co-operating partners to emulate Japan and support the local integration activities for former Angolan refugees,” he said.

And Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Akio Egawa said his government deems the problem of displaced persons as a humanitarian concern and issue which affects global peace and stability.

Speaking at the same function, UNHCR officer in charge Yohondamkoul Sakor said refugee operations in Zambia require an overall budget of US$15 million for this year.

“So this funding will go a long way in covering areas such as basic needs and essential services, which include primary health care, access of children to basic education, access to water and other needs,” he said.

{Daily mail}