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29-10-2022 – The Department of Immigration, between 21st and 28th October 2022, removed One-Hundred and Eighty-Eight (188) Ethiopians after serving sentences, predominantly in Eastern and Central Provinces, for offences of illegal entry and unlawful stay. The latest removals bring the total number of Ethiopians removed from various Correctional Facilities since 8th September 2022 to Five Hundred and Thirty-Two (532). It also brings the number of persons of different nationalities removed between the 21st and 27th of October 2022 to Two-Hundred and Twenty-Eight (228).

Meanwhile, the Chirundu Immigration Office, on 27th October 2022, apprehended seventeen (17) Ethiopians for illegal entry and unlawful stay. They were on their way to South Africa when the Zimbabwean Immigration Authorities intercepted them on the Zimbabwean side following a tip-off from the Zambian Immigration Officers. They are currently detained at Chirundu Police Station pending prosecution. Similarly, the Katete Immigration Office has detained Twenty-Six (26) Ethiopians for illegal entry. Thirteen (13) of the twenty-six (26) were apprehended on 27th October 2022 as they hid in a nearby bush in Katete District, following a tip-off from members of the public. The other thirteen (13) were handed over to the Katete Immigration Office after Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Officers intercepted them on 26th October 2022 before the Reuben Kamanga Toll Plaza aboard a Toyota Spacio Registration Number ALG4991. They are detained pending prosecution.

The Chipata Regional Immigration Office has detained eighteen (18) Ethiopian nationals for illegal entry. The group was handed over to Immigration on 24th October 2022 by Officers from the ZRA, who discovered the group during a routine patrol of the borderline aboard a Toyota Noah Vehicle, Registration Number ALB7271. They are currently detained pending prosecution. The Driver escaped from the scene and remains at large.

In another development, the Chibombo Immigration Office, in the early hours of Wednesday, 26th October 2022, apprehended seven (7) Somali nationals aged between 16 and 36 years for illegal entry and unlawful stay. The group was nabbed at Golden Valley Farm after a tip-off by Police Officers based at Landless Corner Police Post. Preliminary investigations suggest that an unknown person may have dropped them off. They are currently detained at Mukobeko Correctional Facility pending prosecution. The Chirundu, Katete, Chipata, and Chibombo incidents bring the number of persons apprehended between the 21st and 27th of October 2022 to Two-Hundred and Twenty-One (221).

Meanwhile, the Chipata Regional Immigration Office, on 25th October 2022, secured the conviction of a 30-year-old Zambian of Chipata City for harbouring an illegal immigrant contrary to section 46(1) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010. Kelvin Chanduka was arrested on 12th October 2022 at a named garage where he was found working together with the South African who was in the country illegally. He was sentenced to pay a fine of K 20,000 or, in default, nine months simple imprisonment. Meanwhile, the South African was also convicted and fined K 6,000 or, in default, six months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay and employment without a permit. This brings the number of convictions secured by the Department between the 21st and 27th of October 2022 to forty-eight (48).

In another development, Immigration Officers at Katima-Mulilo Border Control between the 26th and 27th of October 2022 received Sixty-Eight (68) Zambians removed from Namibia by that country’s Immigration Authority for illegal entry and unlawful stay.

The interception of illegal immigrants by Zimbabwean Authorities, the Zambia Police and ZRA, and arrests aided by reports from members of the public demonstrate the importance of cooperation and collaborations at bilateral, inter-agency, and community levels in curbing illegal migration in Zambia.