12 Zimbabweans granted asylum in Zambia

12 Zimbabweans granted asylum in Zambia

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ZAMBIA has granted political asylum to a dozen Zimbabwe opposition supporters who have fled mounting political violence ahead of a run-off presidential election this month.

Zambia's home affairs ministry said 12 Zimbabweans have been granted political asylum and given full refugee status after undergoing a screening process, reports said.

"Twelve of the 13 Zimbabweans who applied for asylum in Zambia have been granted the status," said Susan Sikaneta, home affairs permanent secretary.

She said the Zimbabweans will be taken to Maheba refugee camp in north-western Zambia where they will be looked after by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Sikaneta as said the Zimbabweans were supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) who crossed into Zambia in recent days following the escalating violence.

Relations between the governments in Lusaka and Harare have been steadily declining with Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa angering his counterpart Robert Mugabe by likening Zimbabwe's inflation-ravaged economy to the sinking Titanic.

Zimbabwe’s state media has declared open season on Mwanawasa, drawing a sharp rebuke from Zambian officials.

This week, former Zambian President Fredrick Chiluba said the “sustained attacks on Mwanawasa were against the spirit of brotherhood”.

“Our freedom fighters who included Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the late Julius Nyerere, the late Kwame Nkrumah and even Robert Mugabe all believed in the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” said Chiluba. “I hope that the spirit of solidarity will come up and the two leaders (Mugabe and Mwanawasa) will come to a better understanding of the situation.” - AFP/Staff Reporter
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