By RABECCA CHIPANTA –
BODIES of 19 Ethiopians who died last week on the Pedicle Road as they were being smuggled into the country will be transported back to Ethiopia.
And the three Zambians who were arrested in connection with the alleged trafficking of the Ethiopians are still being held by authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge said in an interview that Government in collaboration with officials from the Ethiopian Embassy in South Africa had made headways in the repatriation of the bodies back to Ethiopia.
Mr Musenge said that authorities from both countries had been working on finding an amicable solution on how best the remains of the deceased could be disposed off.
“They (Ethiopians) have indicated that they want to take the remains back to Ethiopia. Arrangements are being made and procedures are being followed, from the information we have received is that they have made arrangements with the hospital to conduct the required procedures before releasing the bodies.
“The Ethiopian government through their embassy is trying to ensure that the bodies are repatriated and should there be any challenges they can be disposed off here,” he said.
He said once all the procedures were completed, the remains would be transported to Lusaka as there was a procedure that had to be followed before bodies could be released.
He said the Ethiopian authorities had taken full responsibility and were working on resolving the issue as soon as possible.
Mr Musenge said the three Zambians that were arrested in connection with the offence were still being held by Congolese authorities.
Government was still in talks with the Congolese authorities to ensure that the trio was released to the Zambian authorities.
Mr Musenge warned other truck drivers involved in human trafficking of stern action as the vice was a serious offence according to the laws of Zambia.
“We want to make it clear to all truck drivers that are in a habit of doing this, I hope they have learnt a lesson from what has happened and probably that should be the last of such incidences,“ he said