NO MORE VISAS TO ANGOLA FOR 30 DAYS
According to the Zambian watchdog- Angolan and Zambian citizens no longer need visas to travel between the two countries after the visa waiver came to effect on Thursday.
"We have abolished visa requirements for diplomatic, official and ordinary passport holders in the two countries," Angola's ambassador to Zambia, Balbina da Silvia, told journalists in Lusaka.
Citizens of the two neighboring countries can travel without a visa restriction for a period of 30 days, said the envoy.
However, to reside, work, study or seek medical care in any of the countries, the citizens will need to apply for a permit.
The agreement was signed in January when Angolan President Joao Lourenco held bilateral talks with his counterpart Edgar Lung in Zambia.
Zambia recently smoother its relations with her western neighbor after they were rattled under the Fredrick Chiluba regime over his controversial support for Jonas Savimbi.
Dr Savimbi was the founding leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angolan government (Unita), which fought a 27-year civil war with the Angolan government. Unita is now the main opposition party in Angola.
The controversial but charismatic leader was killed in battle against the ruling MPLA government forces on February 22,2002 in Lucusse region.
His death paved the way for a peace deal that would bring an end to one of Africa's longest and bloodiest civil conflicts, which erupted after independence from Portugal in 1975.
This war left at least half a million people dead and some four million civilians displaced in the oil-rich nation.
"We have abolished visa requirements for diplomatic, official and ordinary passport holders in the two countries," Angola's ambassador to Zambia, Balbina da Silvia, told journalists in Lusaka.
Citizens of the two neighboring countries can travel without a visa restriction for a period of 30 days, said the envoy.
However, to reside, work, study or seek medical care in any of the countries, the citizens will need to apply for a permit.
The agreement was signed in January when Angolan President Joao Lourenco held bilateral talks with his counterpart Edgar Lung in Zambia.
Zambia recently smoother its relations with her western neighbor after they were rattled under the Fredrick Chiluba regime over his controversial support for Jonas Savimbi.
Dr Savimbi was the founding leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angolan government (Unita), which fought a 27-year civil war with the Angolan government. Unita is now the main opposition party in Angola.
The controversial but charismatic leader was killed in battle against the ruling MPLA government forces on February 22,2002 in Lucusse region.
His death paved the way for a peace deal that would bring an end to one of Africa's longest and bloodiest civil conflicts, which erupted after independence from Portugal in 1975.
This war left at least half a million people dead and some four million civilians displaced in the oil-rich nation.