Sata to meet Perez, in Israel for a working holiday – Scott

Dr Scott said Israeli President Shimon Perez is aware of President Sata’s presence in that country and will definitely meet him when it will be convenient for both presidents.
“His Excellency President Sata will be combining sightseeing, relaxation and business meetings while in Israel,” Dr Scott said.
The Vice-President was responding to the deputy speaker Mkhondo Lungu’s directive that he gives a position on President Sata’s whereabouts following a point of order by Monze Central member of Parliament (MP) Jack Mwiimbu on Tuesday.
Dr Scott further said President Sata is not on a State visit but on a private working holiday.
He said the statement issued by Mr Kapeya, who is also acting Chief Government Spokesperson, confirms that President Sata is on a working holiday in Israel.
“This is all I can say without entering into the fantasy world of the Zambian social media correspondents and editors,” Dr Scott said.
He said even though Mr Mwiimbu did not give verbatim quotations or specified media sources on his point of order, he (Dr Scott) did his best to respond.
And Mafinga MP (MMD) Catherine Namugala, in seeking clarification, said the majority of Zambians wish President Sata well.
“Zambians have the right to know everything about President Sata because he is our President,” Ms Namugala said.
And Kalomo MP (UPND) Request Muntanga asked why the nation was only informed after President Sata had arrived in Israel.
“Why was it difficult to tell the nation that President Sata was leaving?” Mr Muntanga asked.
Dr Scott said on Saturday, he was extremely tied up with other duties but immediately drew up a statement together with Mr Kapeya on Sunday.
And Katombola MP (UPND) Derick Livune caused laughter when he rose on a point of order after Roan MP (PF) Chishimba Kambwili passed a comment that the opposition MPs are wizards.
“Mr Speaker, is Mr Kambwili in order to refer to us the opposition MPs as indoshi [wizards]?” Mr Livune asked.
In making the ruling, Mr Lungu said Mr Kambwili was out of order.
“Let me reiterate that passing running commentaries is not ok. You passed a comment and these people heard. You were not in order,” Mr Lungu said.
And Dr Scott has challenged organisations concerned with issues of human trafficking and migration to be compassionate when dealing with offenders.
Dr Scott said that stakeholders such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and UNICEF should resolve migration problems amicably.
He was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during the 4th National Symposium on Human Trafficking in Zambia where he launched the tools for the protection of vulnerable migrants in Zambia.
Dr Scott said that stakeholders should also look at the root cause of migration, adding that some of the migrants such as women and girls could have genuine reasons such as economic hurdles.
At the same function, Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula said that the Zambian government is committed to tackling human trafficking and issues of migration.
He said it is also necessary to promote the prosecution of perpetrators of human trafficking.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) said it has contributed K14 million to combat human trafficking and exploitation among some 10,000 migrant children and asylum seekers in Zambia.
EU head of cooperation Aad Biesebroek said that women and girls are particularly affected with the former representing 56 percent and the latter 98 percent of victims of forced economic and sexual exploitation.
Acting UN resident coordinator Simon Cammelbeek said the complexity of population movements, often including refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants, is increasingly becoming evident.

Zambia Daily Mail