Rwandan national ask state to intervene over wife detention

… Bigirimana says his wife has documents allowing her to live and do business in Zambia

A former Rwandan Refugee has made an earnest appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs to Steven Kampyongo to intervene in the continued detention of his wife and cause for her immediate release.

Vincent Bigirimana told journalists in an interview that the immigration officers from headquarters arrested his wife Chantal Uwamahoro at her shop in Lilayi area last Wednesday.

Bigirimana said him and his wife Uwamahoro were given an investor’s permit allowing them not only to business and earn in Zambia but also lead a peaceful life as they await for their temporary permanent residence Zambia granted to former Rwandese refugees.

She said the cessation of their refugee status does not permit them to live in refugee camp like any other foreign who status is that of a refugee in the strict sense of the term as defined by Zambia immigration act based on Zambia reservation to some clauses of the 1951 UN Convention on the Rights of Refugees.

He said they are awaiting their temporary permanent resident, instead of the investor’s permit, granted to the former Rwandese refugees in accordance with the local integration in progress in the aftermath of cessation of their refugee status in 2013.

He said the investor’s permit which was to the family after the refugee status was revoked was due to be replaced by a temporarily resident to permit which allowed the family to lead an interrupted life in Zambia.

Despite having a recommendation from Commissioner of Refugees office which allow him to live and do business in Zambia as they awaited for their permanent residence in Zambia, Bigirimana said his wife has been arrested and kept in prison five times.

He wondered how he and his family would earn a living if the immigration officers continue to arrest them while they are in possession of documents permitting them not only to live in Zambia but also do their business.

He claimed to have tried in vain all other means in the book to secure the release of his wife.

He also wondered why the department of the immigration decided to defy efforts by the Commission of Refugees office to cause the release of his wife from prison.

He feel the only last resort .is to appeal from the government of Zambia via the good office of the Minister of Hone affairs to intervene in the matter.

Bigirimana want the government through the minister of Home Affairs prevail over the arrest of his wife and cause her to be released from detention where she is being confined.

Bigirimana said the two have two children whom he is looking after and wondered how he will survive if the immigration continue to arrest them.

Unfortunately the first born child died, recently, due to a brain tumour after he failed to go back for a medical review in India where he was operated. He added that his UN conventional travel document (aka UK Passport) was withdrawn after losing their refugee status and there was no other provisions put in place which can allow former Rwandese refugees to travel abroad if a need arises like seeking a specialised medical attention.

He said at time he was due to be given a temporary permanent resident after the cessation clause targeting Rwandese in Zambia.