13-08-2024 – The Department of Immigration in Lusaka has detained 26 undocumented Ethiopian nationals for illegal entry. The group was apprehended in the State Lodge Area by that Area’s Neighbourhood Watch comprising Police Officers and members of the Community. The team came across a Quantum Hiace Bus which had just overturned while on their usual patrol at around 04:00 hours. In an attempt to rescue the accident victims, the team found some suspected Ethiopians still inside the overturned bus while they noticed others, including a Zambian Driver and Co-Driver had escaped into the nearby bushes. Joined by Officers from the Department of immigration, the team conducted a search of the bush and apprehended some more suspected Ethiopians bringing the number currently detained to 26. Preliminary investigations suggest that the total number of Ethiopians was 37 and that they entered Zambia from Malawi with South Africa being their intended destination. The suspects are currently being screened and will soon be taken into detention to pave way for further investigations. Meanwhile, the search for the two Zambians and the eleven Ethiopian escapees is ongoing.
Further, the Mumbwa Immigration Office on 10th August, 2024 apprehended two Somali Refugees for being found outside a Refugee Settlement without authority. The duo had been engaged in illegal mining activities.
Furthermore, the Lusaka Regional Immigration on 12th August, 2024 apprehended 36 suspected illegal immigrants of different nationalities in a routine clean-up operation conducted in various parts of Lusaka. The Lusaka and Mumba operations brought the number of persons apprehended by the Department of Immigration between 9th and 12th August 2024 countrywide to 73.
In addition, the Isoka Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced a 45-year-old Tanzanian, Godfrey Philemon Mwambongela to a fine of K 120,000 or in default to serve nine months simple imprisonment for aiding and abetting six undocumented immigrants among them three Ethiopians and three Somalis. He was apprehended on 29th July, 2024 at a roadblock at Mwaiseni Checkpoint mounted by the Isoka Immigration Office. This was after the Immigration Officers discovered six undocumented immigrants concealed in a wooden compartment underneath the Truck’s chassis of the Tanzanian registered Truck and Trailer Registration number T585 DWP and T299 CDA, which he had been driving. Investigations revealed that Mwambongela had been engaged by unknown persons to picked up the undocumented immigrants from a place about 20 Kilometres before Kalungu Checkpoint in Nakonde and transport them to Mpika for an agreed fee of K 15,000. He was charged with aiding and abetting six undocumented Ethiopians contrary to section 46(1)(a) of the Immigration and Deportation Act Number 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia. Meanwhile, five of the six undocumented immigrants were convicted and sentenced to fines of between K 4,500 and K 10,000 or in default nine months simple imprisonment for illegal entry while the case of them a Somali claiming to be a Juvenile was adjourned for age determination.
The Isoka judgements brought the number of convictions secured by the Department of immigration between 9th and 12th August, 2024 to 30.
Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration between 9th and 12th August, 2024 removed 24 illegal immigrants from the country and refused entry nine foreign nationals of different nationalities for failing to meet entry requirements.
