27-08-2024 – The Department of Immigration on 24th August, 2024 removed 39 Ethiopian nationals from the country. The majority were involved in suspected cases of smuggling of migrants and human trafficking. They were removed via Kenneth Kaunda International Airport aboard Ethiopian Airline. This latest removal brought the number of Ethiopians removed from the country between 17th February and 24th August, 2024 to 557. Arrangements to remove the remaining over 300 Ethiopians who are in various correctional facilities across the country have reached an advanced stage.
Similarly, the Solwezi Immigration Office on 26th August, 2024 served 44 Tanzanians aged between 19 and 55 with notices to leave the country for giving false information to an Immigration Officer. The group was intercepted at the Kapiji Checkpoint aboard a Kasempa-bound Likili Public Service Bus following inconsistencies in their true purpose of visit. They entered the country as ordinary visitors but had intention to engage in illegal gold mining activities in Kasempa. Some of them were found with gold detectors.
Meanwhile, the Nyimba Magistrate Court on 26th August, 2024 convicted and sentenced five Zambians Chrispin Mwanza (34) of Chipata, Luckson Banda (34) of Nyimba, Alphonso Phiri (35), Haggai Sakala (33), and Shaderick Jere (37) all of Katete to pay a fine of K 80,000 each or six months simple imprisonment for aiding and abetting 27 undocumented male Ethiopians. The five were intercepted at Kacholola checkpoint by Police and Zambia National Service Officers. They had been carrying the 27 undocumented male Ethiopians aged between 12 and 27 in three Toyota Sienta Vehicles Registration numbers BBD 889, ARC 6049 and ARC 5575.
Further, the Serenje Immigration Office on 24th August, 2024 secured the conviction of 31 of the 58 undocumented Ethiopians who were on 4th August, 2024 apprehended at Ndabala Checkpoint by a team of Immigration and Police Officers for illegal entry. The group was concealed in a Lusaka-bound Containerised Volvo Truck and Trailer registration numbers BBC 7457 and ALC 8826T. Nine were hidden underneath the Container in an improvised compartment near the Truck’s chassis while 49 were discovered hidden in a partitioned room at the end of the Container which could only be accessed through the roof of the Container. The 31 were each fined K 5,000 or four months simple imprisonment. This brings the number of the Ethiopians convicted to 42. The remaining 16 were confirmed to be juveniles and will not be prosecuted and arrangements for their removal from the country are underway.
Furthermore, the Chingola Immigration Office on 23rd August, 2024 secured the conviction of Kanyinda Bula Bula, a 46-year-old Congolese Truck Driver for aiding and abetting a Prohibited Immigrant contrary to section 46(4) and for being in possession of more than one passport without authority contrary to section 55 of the Immigration and Deportation Act No 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia. He was fined K 6,000 for each of the two counts or in default 9 months simple imprisonment. He was apprehended on 15th August, 2024 at Solwezi Turn-off checkpoint in Chingola driving a Truck heading to South Africa from Kasumbalesa when one of the two Congolese passengers on board presented a passport bearing another person’s name. The other Congolese passenger, a minor had a valid passport and valid visiting days. A further search led to the discovery of twelve (12) Congolese passports in one of his travelling bags. Investigations letter reviewed that he aided the female who had another person’s passport to enter the country illegally and that he did not have a valid letter of consent to travel with the minor.
The Nyimba, Serenje and Chingola judgements brought the number of convictions secured by the Department of Immigration between 23rd and 26th August, 2024 to 59.
In addition, during this period the Department of Immigration apprehended 81 suspected illegal immigrants of different nationalities across the country and refused entry to 13 foreign nationals for failing to meet entry requirements.