Inyenyeri news has learnt that  the recent visit by the Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kalaba was used as platform for Rwanda to  persuade the  Zambian government  to close  a deal  of  an extradition treaty that would pave the way for the extradition to Rwanda  for what Kigali calls fugitives linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

This was announced at a joint media briefing by the Foreign affairs ministers of the two countries in the Rwandan capital of Kigali.

It comes at a time when the RPF mouth Piece in Kinyarwanda Rushashya published some opposition figures like a catholic priest turned politician Thomas Nahimana  that are  crisscrossing the southern countries of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe drumming for support from the  Rwandan refugees in the respective countries.

According to the Rwandan Foreign Minister Mishikiwabo, the two countries are in the process to strengthen bilateral ties, which would include education, judicial cooperation and implementation of the UN Cessation Clause that spells out modalities to facilitate voluntary repatriation of former Rwandan refugees.

Currently, there are about 6,000 Rwandans living in Zambia, according to reports from Kigali, among them  are suspected Genocide perpetrators, who are said to be involved in acts aimed at discouraging compatriots who are willing to return home – after losing their refugee status.

Zambia minister for Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba, who was on an official visit to Rwanda, told journalists  that the two governments are in the final stages of coming up with an extradition treaty that would see people suspected of committing crimes in either country sent back home. However, this would be a mistake by the Zambian Government if it succumbs to the RPF pressure, because Rwanda is a country that lacks democratic institutions compared to zambia.

In fact the Majority of Rwandan refugees all over the World are politically motivated and Kagame should not mislead a democratic country that has seen change of hands of different leaders from the First President Kenneth Kaunda regarded as the Father of Zambian democracy.

“Zambia sent a proposal of the Extradition Treaty to Rwanda, and Rwanda has sent its draft to Lusaka, which we will have to look at it. I am sure that the extradition treaty will be signed and those that are supposed to come to Rwanda to answer certain questions will definitely come,” said Kalaba.

Interestingly, Zambia has no people in Rwanda for extradition by Rwanda to Zambia; it’s on the Rwandan part that is very unsafe with Rwandans living in Zambia. We appeal to the Zambian government and the United Nations for Refugees (NHCR) to work very closely with the Zambian government to prevent political refugees to be sent to Rwanda as we recently saw how Joe Mutabazi was kidnapped and handed him to Rwanda by Uganda.