The Lusaka Regional Immigration Office has removed 77 Prohibited Immigrants from the country in a mass removal exercise on January 20, 2024.
And similarly, on January 17 2024, the Kitwe Immigration Office removed 36 Prohibited Immigrants in a similar exercise after they paid court fines for illegal entry, unlawful stay, and engaging in business without permits.Immigrations Public Relations Namati Nshinka said the Lusaka and Kitwe mass removal exercises brought the number of prohibited immigrants removed by the Department of Immigration between 17 and 21 January 2024 to 203.
Meanwhile, the Nakonde Immigration Office on January 18, 2024 secured the conviction of a 53-year-old man Rwandese national, Emile Nsabimana, for unlawful return and illegal entry. Mr Nshinka said similarly, the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office, on 17January 2024, secured the conviction of two Burudians, for the offence of unlawful stay, contrary to the Laws of Zambia. He said the Nakonde and Lusaka court outcomes brought the number of convictions secured by the Department of Immigration between 17 and 21 January 2024 to 56. In another development, the Petauke Immigration Office has arrested 27-year-old Zambian of Sinda District, Harrison Kapila, in connection with the harbouring, aiding, and abetting of 15 undocumented Ethiopian nationals. Mr Nshinka said for the most part, Kapila appeared to have been a whistle-blower when he assisted the Petauke Immigration Office in discovering 15 undocumented Ethiopians in a house in Petauke’s Stambuli Compound, and subsequently arrested two Zambian suspects, Bernard Phiri 29 and Donald Njovu 42 on December 13, 2023. However, on January 18, 2024 the Petauke Immigration Office arrested Kapila after new evidence suggested he may have been implicit in the offence. Investigations are still ongoing. The Department wishes to warn foreign nationals against abrogating the provisions of the Immigration and Deportation Act. We will not hesitate to arrest anyone found wanting.
