17-08-2022 – The Isoka Immigration Office has apprehended Eight (08) Bangladesh and two (02) Pakistan nationals for failing to appear before an Immigration Officer and unlawful stay. The group was intercepted on 15th August 2022 at the Zambia National Service checkpoint along the Isoka-Nakonde Road aboard a Toyota Runx Registration Number AIC 8937 and a Toyota Probox Registration Number AID 3805 after a tip-off from the Nakonde Immigration Office. Although nine (9) of the ten (10) suspects had valid Passports, none of the passports had entry endorsements, indicating that they did not appear before an Immigration Officer when entering the country as required by law. In addition, the Officers found Malawian and South African Passports in the names of the Pakistan national who was driving the Toyota Runx. Meanwhile, two (2) Tanzanians found with the group and the Zambian Driver of the Toyota Runx were also apprehended and will be charged with aiding and abetting illegal immigrants.
Similarly, the Chirundu Immigration Office, in the early hours of Tuesday, 16th August 2022, apprehended ten (10) Ethiopian nationals for illegal entry and unlawful stay. The group comprising nine (9) males and one (1) female aged between 22 and 27 years was nabbed at a named Guest House in Chirundu District following a tip-off from members of the public. Only two (2) had valid passports, while the rest did not have any travel documents. However, no entry endorsements were found in the two (2) passports. Preliminary investigations suggest that they intended to proceed to South Africa via Zimbabwe.
Further, the Kasama Regional Immigration Office, on Sunday, 14th August 2022, also apprehended ten (10) Ethiopian nationals for failing to appear before an Immigration Officer and unlawful stay. The Ethiopians aged between 13 and 34 years were arrested in the Nseluka area along the Mbala-Kasama Road following a tip-off from members of the community. The group was travelling to Lusaka in a Toyota Hilux Registration BBA 6236, which rammed into a railway line, prompting them to hide in the nearby bush as they waited for backup transport. They were nabbed just as they attempted to embark on the Toyota Regius ALJ 4392 arranged to pick them up. The two (2) Zambian drivers of the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Regius, together with another Zambian found at the scene, were also apprehended and will be charged with the offence of aiding and abetting illegal immigrants. The three incidents bring the number of persons apprehended for various immigration offences between 12th and 16th August 2022 to ninety-three (93).
During this same period, the Department of Immigration removed forty-four (44) illegal immigrants from the country, secured fifty-one (51) convictions, and refused entry to twelve (12) foreign nationals for failing to meet various entry requirements. We wish to commend members of the public for their continued collaboration with our Officers in enforcing immigration law by reporting suspected cases of illegal immigration. However, in the same breath, we wish to caution those who have continued to aid, abet and harbour illegal immigrants to desist from such acts because they are unlawful and punishable under the Immigration and Deportation Act No.18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
