3rd December, 2023.
MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
RELEASE MR. APPOLLINAIRE NSENGIYUMVA UNCONDITIONALLY.
Movement for Promoting National Values and Principles is appealing to the Zambia Police to have Mr. Appolinaire Nsengiyumva released from Police Custody without any conditions.
On Friday the 1st day of December around 18 hours, Mr. Appolinaire Nsengiyumva was arrested by the Zambia Police and was taken to Police Service Headquarters. Later he was moved to Ibex Police Station where he remains in detention until now.
Mr. Appolinaire first came into the Country as a refugee from Rwanda in 1996. After a thorough introspection by the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, he was granted Asylum which later culminated into a Refugee status. He together with his closest family members were victims of the Rwandan genocide that erupted in 1994 where almost a million people lost their lives.
Since Mr. Appolinaire Nsengiyumva had good academic credentials, he applied for a job at Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC) and earned a job as one of the officers. Due to the secession close agreed upon between the Zambian Government and the Rwandan Government in 2013, it was unanimously resolved that Rwanda would no longer accept allowing it's people to flee to other Countries in search of peace and tranquility. The 2013 pivotal agreement led to some refugees from Rwanda being qualified to a paradox status called Former Refugees.
The recent Court Judgement in Britain however confirmed that Rwanda is not a safe haven for it's former refugees. Rumors have been ongoing that those who return to Rwanda on either voluntary basis or after being forced end up loosing their lives.
According to the United Nations Geneva Convention (1951) protocols which Zambia remain not only a signatory but a bonafide member, no single refugee should be forced returning to his Country of Origin and the act is deemed a total violation of human rights! It therefore makes sad reading hearing about the arrest of Mr. Appolinaire on the basis that he is purported to have committed some crime in Rwanda.
Reliable sources we consulted indicated that the Zambia Police initially claimed that Mr. Appolinaire was living in Zambia illegally and that he was a Prohibited Immigrant. Later we learnt about the Charge of Terrorism alleged by the Rwandan Government. Immediately we learnt about the ordeal involving Mr. Appolinaire, we reached out to his whereabouts and accessed him at Ibex Police Station.
UNFORTUNATE DEVELOPMENTS ABOUT MR. APPOLINAIRE NSENGIYUMVA.
In 2016, Mr. Appolinaire suffered a stroke that left him in a terrible condition. Some four (4) years later, he suffered another bout of a stroke that left him terrified. While in detention at Ibex Police Station and in our presence, Mr. Appolinaire had a sudden rise of high blood pressure and was rushed to the nearby health facility.
Today in the morning, we all woke up with the shock hearing that his biological young sister who is looking after his Children collapsed and was pronounced dead at Matero Level One Hospital. Later after his other young brother learnt about the sudden death of his sister also collapsed and is currently receiving medical attention.
Due to his fragile condition (Mr. Appolinaire Nsengiyumva), relatives have been hesitant breaking the sad news to him. In 2021, Mr. Appolinaire Nsengiyumva was mentioned by Maj Nsabimana Sankara Callixte a rebel leader in Rwanda during the Court trial. Major Nsabimana cited Mr. Appolinaire and claimed that he was the link and an ally to the sixth Republican President an allegation that was fully investigated by the Investigative Wings of Zambia and was found futile.
As an Organization championing Social Justice, Equity, Equality or Fairness, Constitutionalism, Human Dignity and Non Marginalization, we wish to state that Zambia is a Sovereign Nation on its own and does not subscribe to any other nation. Neither can we be forced succumbing to the demands and desires of another Country.
We wish to employ the Zambian Government not to compromise the Integrity of our Nation and dislodge ourselves from the reputable name we hold as a peaceful Country due to some selfish motive of others. Such irrational decisions of deporting people by force have potential of denting the image of our Country. We also risk thwarting the good intentions of the donors who have been pumping monies in our treasury due to the Democratic tenets we hold.
It is also risky and an act of betrayal persecuting people of concern that we pledged to be protecting. It is sad and regrettable that we continue loosing in death many foreign nationals especially Rwandans in unexplained circumstances. Chances are high that the killings taking place in our Country among the Rwandan Nationals are perpetrated by some foreign hands.
We have a responsibility to look after the lives of our brothers and sisters who have officially sought hostage in our Country. This is also a reminder for the relevant authorities to expedite the local Integration and Resettlement of some refugees whose lives remain at stake. So far as an Organization we are grateful for the intervention of the Zambian Government in the protection of refugees through the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees. (COR). We also commend the Office of the Country Representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for engaging Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Finally we are mindful of the fact that the issue of Mr. Appolinaire Nsengiyumva has already reached the ears of the International Communities. So far Geneva in Switzerland is ardently following proceedings involving Mr. Appolinaire's arrest and detention. Amnesty International is also informed about the situation and has already engaged its legal representatives in Zambia. We also wish to express our heartfelt congratulations to the Zambia Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU) a local Civil Society Organization that champions the rights of the refugees and other disadvantaged groupings in the Country.
We are therefore making a humanitarian appeal as an Organization to the relevant authorities involved to ensure that the matter is handled expeditiously and save the good image of our Country!
MPNVP - WE ARE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS!
Cc: Hon Jack Mwiimbu - Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.
Cc: Hon Stainly Kakubo - Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Cc: Mr. Graphael Musamba - Inspector General of Police.
Cc: Dr. Japhet Lishomwa - Director General for the Immigration Department.
Cc: Professor Prosper Mwango Ng'andu - Commissioner for Refugees.
Cc: The Director - Human Rights Commission.
Cc: Mrs. Preeta Law - UNHCR Country Representative.
You can also download this press statement in pdf by clicking below.
