7-09-2022 – The Department of Immigration in Lusaka, on 4th September 2022, arrested a South African couple of plot Number 01, Mungwala Village of Shibuyunji District of Central Province, for the offence of unlawful stay in Zambia. Reginald Hills (70) and Francina Wilhelmina Hills (70) were apprehended on 5th September 2022 after Immigration Officers established that the couple had been staying in the country unlawfully since 11th June 2021, when Mr. Reginald Hill’s employment permit on which his wife was included, expired.
The Immigration Officers visited the couple’s residence following a prolonged investigation into the couple’s immigration status after a tip-off from members of the public. The couple, on several occasions, succeeded in evading the Officers. The Officers finally arrested him with the assistance of Police from Sibuyunji after barricading himself in his house for over five (5) hours. Leading up to his arrest, Mr. Reginald Hills, in an attempt to dissuade the Officers from pursuing him, had maliciously accused the officers of extortion. The couple has been charged with unlawful stay in Zambia and is detained pending court appearance. The Sibuyunji incident brings the number of persons apprehended for various offences between 2nd and 6th September 2022 to one-hundred and one (101).
The Isoka Immigration Office, on 6th September 2022, secured convictions aFarooq Rizwani (37) a South African and Obeth David Bahari (33) and Goodson Eben Kimaro (30), both Tanzanians, for the offence of aiding and abetting Prohibited Immigrants contrary to section 46(1)(a)(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act Number 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia. The trio between 13th and 15th August 2022 in Isoka while acting together, knowingly aided nine (9) prohibited immigrants by providing accommodation and transport from Nakonde to Isoka. As a result, the duo was sentenced to pay a fine of K 60,000 each or, in default, six months simple imprisonment.
Similarly, the Department of Immigration in Lusaka has secured the conviction of a Nigerian National, Ugabe Enonche, for two (2) counts of using forged documents and one (1) count of unlawful stay. Ugabe Enonche was apprehended with two (2) Zambian nationals, with whom he was jointly charged. Ugabe Enonche admitted the charges and was convicted on 6th September 2022 and sentenced to pay a fine of Kwacha Three Thousand (K 3,000) or, in default, four (4) months in each count of using forged documents and Kwacha Six Thousand (K6,000) or in default nine (9) months for unlawful stay. The case was adjourned to 14th September 2022 for commencement of trial in respect of the Zambians, who denied the charges. The Isoka and Lusaka Court outcomes bring the number of convictions secured by the Department of Immigration through the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) between 2nd and 6th September 2022 to fifty (50).
During this same period, the Department removed thirty (30) illegal immigrants from the country and refused ten (10) persons entry into the country for failing to meet entry requirements.
The Department has noted a growing trend among the members of the public who are uncooperative with our Officers even when they have identified themselves as such. In this regard, we wish to warn members of the public to desist from obstructing Officers in the execution of duty, as this is unlawful and punishable by law.
