Why are we hosting 22 Afghan Nationals belived to being pursued by the Taliban? Former Home Affairs Minister Hon. Kampyongo asks New Dawn
…as South Africa denies entry…..
Today in Parliament
Shiwang’andu Member of Parliament Hon. Stephen Kampyongo this afternoon during Parliamentary session took the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to task to find out why Zambia is hosting the 22 Afghan Nationals currently in the country.
“As Zambia will be for the second time resuming for the second time the chairmanship of the SADC TROIKA organ on politics, security and defence in the region, Madam speaker there an immigration matter that is passing a security concern to the SADC region. Last week the Republic of South Africa declined entry to 22 Afghan nationals who traveled through to Zimbabwe where they where hosted as tourists with tourist visa and later tried to cross into South Africa”
“According to the Republic of South, The 22 Afghan arrived in Lusaka on 19th aboard Emirates airline. Madam speaker This is a very serious matter and we would like the Minister of Home Affairs to give comfort to Zambian Citizens because if South Africa with Robust security infrastructure could be scared to host these individuals I don’t know how Zambia would be comfortable to host these individuals host these individuals without an established status?”
Meanwhile, according to the Alarabiya News of South Africa, the Republic of South Africa on Tuesday last week challenged a court order forcing it to grant asylum to 22 Afghan nationals who arrived from Zimbabwe where they had spent a month on tourist visas. A Pretoria high court issued an order compelling government to take in the Afghan nationals after border authorities turned them away at the Beitbridge border.
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Hon. Aaron Motsoaledi said “We’re contesting the interim order,” “We’re also contesting the fact that these people are not in need of asylum, we don’t think they are in need of asylum or they followed the normal route of seeking asylum.”
Minister Motsoaledi questioned the manner in which the Afghan nationals arrived accompanied by three American citizens. “Here are people who are supposed to be refugees in serious problems but their arrival is preceded by a letter from a very expensive legal firm,” he said.
Following this refusal, the 22 concerned moved on to Zambia after returning to Zimbabwe.