By Amos Sikaonga 
By Amos Sikaonga
Zambia and Mozambique`s Defense and Security agencies have retrieved two individuals who had been trafficked between the two countries.
The two individuals include a seven months old Zambian juvenile who had been trafficked to Mozambique and a 21-year-old Mozambican national living with albinism who had been sold in Zambia.
Mozambique’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Casimiro Agusto Mueio, revealed that a recent collaboration of Defence and Security agencies between the two countries has since resulted in the repatriation of the Zambian juvenile and retrieval of the Mozambican national.
Mr. Mueio added that the collaboration between the two countries has worked very well with the assurance of safety of citizens in both countries.
He was speaking during the closing ceremony of the Senior Officials Meeting during the 13th Session of the Zambia-Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security in Chilanga District.
“Close collaboration and sharing of information on transnational crimes is helping in fighting illegalities happening across the common border,” Mr. Mueio said.
Mr. Mueio added that authorities in Mozambique’s Tete Province are working closely with their counterparts in Zambia’s Eastern Province to fight crime.
And Zambia’s Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Maambo Haamaundu, stated that the retrieval of the two individuals who were trafficked across the common border is a good sign of collaboration between Defence and Security agencies in the two countries.
Mr. Haamaundu, who was the Chairman of the Senior officials Meeting, said resolutions of the Senior Officials Meeting must be turned into tangible results to assure the safety of Zambians and Mozambicans.
“Our two countries must work together to ensure that their national interests are met,” he noted.
Meanwhile, speaking during a Ministerial Meeting, Minister of Defence Ambrose Lufuma said Zambia considers Mozambique as a strategic partner economically, adding that the partnership is aimed at having a peaceful and safe region.
“The 13th session of the Zambia-Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security gave an opportunity to the two countries to deliberate on many matters of interest,” Mr. Lufuma said.
And Mozambique’s Minister of Home Affairs Paulo Chachine urged Customs Authorities in both Zambia and Mozambique to expedite the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the operationalization of the Chanida One Stop Border Post.
“The Chanida One Stop Border Post will facilitate easy movement of goods and services across the border,” Mr. Chachine stressed.
This is according to a statement Issued by Ministry of Defence Principal Public Relations Officer, Paul Shalala.
Cecilia Chiluba 
Joseph Tembo