By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The Department of Immigration in Ndola has detained one hundred and twenty-eight suspected illegal immigrants.
This follows a Ndola Regional Immigration Office-led clean-up operation Last week Friday with support from other security-wings.
Immigrations Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka said the operation’s was as a response to complaints from members of the public of an influx of suspected illegal immigrants in the city and also to rid Ndola of illegal immigrants.
Mr Nshinka said the operation’s target areas were Casinos, Lodges, Masala Residential Area, Pamodzi Residential Area, and Urungu Ndeke turn-off resulting in the apprehending of three
He said those apprehended were 78 Somalis, 18 Tanzanians, 14 Indians, 5 persons claiming Zambian citizenship, and eight Kenyans, Five Congolese, Five Chinese, four Americans, 4 Cambodians, and Four Ethiopians.
Others were Three Dutch, Two British, One Canadian, One Malawian, and One Turkish.
“The department wishes to provide some clarity on the issue of identity cards. The Department is in no way forcing any person to carry their Identity Documents with them, we are merely advising people to do so in order to avoid the inconvenience associated with clean-up operations.
“I also wish to place on record that our officers do not take into detention anyone who proves during screening their legal immigration status. Suspected illegal immigrants caught-up during a clean-up operation are given an opportunity to contact family, friend or employers to avail any document relevant to their case,” he said.
