22-08-2022 – The Kasama Regional Immigration Office has secured convictions of three (3) Zambian Businessmen for knowingly aiding and abetting ten (10) Ethiopian illegal immigrants by facilitating their illegal movements from Tanzania to Kasama contrary to section 46(1) (a) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia. Micheal Chapakwenda (27), Godfrey Kaluba (26), and Joseph Mutentwa (32) of Lusaka, Mpika, and Kitwe, respectively, and the ten Ethiopians were nabbed on 14th August 2022 in Mungwi District after a tip-off from the community. Investigations later revealed that the undocumented migrants were handed-over to Micheal Chapakwenda by an unknown Tanzanian national.
Consequently, on 18th August 2022, the Kasama Magistrate Court sentenced the trio to pay a fine of K 2,500 each or, in default, six months simple imprisonment. They have since been released after paying the fines. The Kasama convictions bring the total number of convictions secured by the Department between 17th and 21st August 2022 to thirty-four (34).
During this period, the Department apprehended one hundred and nine (109) persons for various offences country-wide and removed thirty-seven (37) illegal immigrants from the country.
We wish to encourage members of the public with information about an individual, business, or employer who may be aiding and abetting illegal immigrants to report to the Department of Immigration.
