24-02-2021 – The Department of Immigration at Mwami Border Control has detained a 36-year-old Malawian Truck Driver by the name Dagia Razarckie Mussa and forty-two (42) male Ethiopians aged between 15 and 27 years for aiding and abetting illegal immigrants and illegal entry, respectively. The forty-two (42) were intercepted on 23rd February 2021 near Mutenguleni by Officers from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) who had been trailing the truck from Mwami Border and were handed over to Immigration. The forty-two (42) were found hidden in a Malawian Registered Front Liner Truck Registration Numbers ZA 3272 and Trailer Registration Number CK 1916. The Trailer was completely covered with a heavy tent to completely conceal the illegal immigrants. All the 42 Ethiopians and the Malawian driver of the truck are currently detained at Namuseche Correctional Facility pending further immigration formalities. The truck and trailer have been impounded.
Meanwhile, the Kasama Regional Immigration Office has secured the conviction of two (02) Zambians, Cephas Chinyika (28) and Listone Shilaba (29), both drivers, for aiding and abetting illegal immigrants contrary to section 46(1) (a) and 46 (2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No.18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the case in which Cephas Chinyika and Listone Shilaba were jointly charged with Loveday Bbingu, a 29-year-old Zambian driver, and Godrick Chimwesu (29) a lorry boy, were that they on 16th October 2020 in Kasama jointly and whilst acting together knowingly and willingly did assist seven (7) Burundian nationals to enter Zambia illegally without valid passports. This was after they were intercepted by Immigration Officers aboard a public service vehicle Toyota Hiace Registration Number BCA 8902, driven by Cephas Chinyika. Also aboard the bus were six (6) Burundians who failed to produce documentation legalizing their entry into Zambia.
Cephas Chinyika, Listone Shilaba, and Godrick Chimwesu appeared before the Magistrate Court in Kasama on 23rd February 2021. Cephas Chinyika and Listone Shilaba were each sentenced to pay a fine of K 60,000 or in default 9 months simple imprisonment with effect from 16th October 2020 while Godrick Chimwesu was acquitted. Meanwhile, Loveday Bbingu appeared before the Magistrate Court much earlier on 6th November 2020 and was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 60,000 or in default 6 months simple imprisonment. All the six (6) Burundians who were found on the bus were convicted. Three (03) of them were each sentenced to pay a fine of K 5,000 or in default 9 months simple imprisonment while the other three were fined K 1,000 or in default 30 days simple imprisonment. All six (06) have since been removed from the country having paid their court fines.
The Department of Immigration between 17th and 23rd February, 2021 apprehended a total of eighty-nine (89) persons for various immigration offences countrywide. During this period the Department also removed fifty-nine (59) illegal immigrants from the country, secured thirty-eight (38) convictions and refused ten (10) foreign nationals entry into Zambia.
We wish to encourage members of the public with information of an individual, business, or employer who may be aiding and abetting illegal immigrants to contact the Department of Immigration.
