27 DRC families flee war into Nchelenge

October 31, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

 

From ALEX NJOVU in Kitwe

OVER 171 Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) nationals have fled their country and entered Zambia following renewed fighting between Mai Mai insurgents and government forces in Pweto.
Nchelenge district commissioner Joseph Chisakula said in an interview from Nchelenge yesterday that the 27 Congolese families who entered Zambia through Chiengi on Saturday are accommodated at Luchinde clinic in Nchelenge.
“171 refugees from DRC entered Chiengi from Pweto town in the DRC after fleeing fighting between government forces and the Mai Mai rebels. They entered the country on Saturday around 08: 00 hours and we are keeping them at a clinic,” Mr Chisakula said.
He said the refugees are from four villages in the DRC which he named as Kakonona, Chongo, Kabembe and Chafubu.
Mr Chisakula said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been informed about the presence of Congolese refugees in Nchelenge.
He said Luchinde clinic is operating normally despite the presence of the refugees.
Mr Chisakula advised Nchelenge residents to remain calm because Zambian security agencies are on high alert.
“We are appealing to our people to remain calm as there is no need to panic. Our soldiers are on high alert. They must go on with their normal daily activities,” Mr Chisakula said.
He said the refugees are refusing to go back to their country because their houses were burnt down during the fighting.
“There was an official who came from Congo who advised them to return to their country but they refused. They told him that they don’t have homes because their houses were burnt and some of their relatives were killed during the fighting. For now, they have refused to go back to Congo,” Mr Chisakula said.
He said Government has put in place measures to ensure that the Congolese nationals do not move around the country.
“We addressed them and told them not to go anywhere in the district for security reasons. Few of them who have relatives in the district are with their relatives but most of them are at the clinic where they are being watched by security officers,” Mr Chisakula said.