ZAMBIA-RCSPO/ Threats towards Rwandan refugees in Zambia// Letter to Honorable DAVIES MWILA, MP Ministry of Home Affairs Cabinet Building/Independence Avenue Lusaka, Zambia

Rwandan Civil Society and Political Organizations in Diaspora (RCSPO)

Honorable DAVIES MWILA, MP Ministry of Home Affairs Cabinet Building/Independence Avenue Lusaka, Zambia C/o Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the U.N 237 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022

April 20, 2016 Nº 16/CSPOR/RE /0416

Subject: Threats towards Rwandan refugees in Zambia

Honorable Minister;

The Coordinating Committee of the Rwandan Civil Society and Political Organizations of Diaspora (RCSPO) would like to express its concerns about the security of Rwandan Refugees in Zambia who are being violently attacked by the disguised rioters that began in two neighborhoods Zingalume and George on Monday, April 18, 2016, looting shops owned by Rwanda nationals and spreading to other areas on Tuesday, leaving about 62 shops destroyed, two people who were burned alive to death on Monday, and hundreds of individuals who fled their homes to seek refuge in different places.

RCSPO avails itself of this opportunity to present its heartfelt condolences to all the families that lost their beloved ones in ritual killings and subsequent xenophobic violence.

RCSPO highly appreciates the quick intervention of the Police and Zambian authorities especially the apologies of H.E. President Edgar Lungu to contain the violence and restore calm in the affected areas and to ensure the protection of all persons, including nationals, foreigners, refugees and their properties. We believe that all these actions will be continuously followed up to prevent these tragic situations to happen again in the future.

RCSPO believes that all people who are behind this insecurity in Zambia should be brought to justice. Therefore, it is in the interests of justice for the government of Zambia to carry out a prompt and thorough investigation to shade light on all the involved in the killings of the national victims under rituals, and the origin of the baseless rumors accusations.

In this endeavor, RCSPO also believes that the investigation should not ignore leads from different media and broadcasts about the involvement of the Rwandan government in the planning of these attacks, should also look back to very similar attacks on Rwandan refugees in Zambia few years ago that targeted refugee businessmen and intellectuals where the Rwandan government was the first suspect.

 RCSPO reiterates its appreciation to the government and the people of Zambia for the warm hospitality extended to fellow Rwandan refugees since they entered Zambian soil in the aftermath of 1994 genocide, and urges Zambian people to maintain the blameless reputation of the peaceful coexistence between the two people and to continue to encourage a successful integration of the refugees as a strong signs of your legendary hospitality. Please accept, Honorable Minister, the assurance of our highest consideration.

   For the RCSPO Coordinating Committee

                  Pascal Kalinganire

                                                                                        

Copy:

H.E Filippo Grandi

UN High Commissioner for Refugees

CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt / Geneva- Switzerland                                     

Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

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Central Business District / Private Bag 0095, Gaborone, Botswana

 Prof. NTUMBA Luaba
ICGLR Executive Secretary

P.O. Box 7076
Bujumbura-BURUNDI

Mr. Kenneth Roth

Executive Director of Human Rights Watch

350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor

New York, NY 10118-3299

Mr. Salil Shetty

Secretary General of Amnesty International

1 Easton Street, London, WC1X 0DW, UK