By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The Department of Immigration in Nakonde has secured the conviction of 13 Ethiopian nationals for failing to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer.
Immigrations Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka said the group was apprehended on July 11, 2021 aboard a stationary Noah Motor Vehicle Registration Number AIB 8988 when they failed to produce documentation legalizing their entry into Zambia.
Mr Nshinka said this was during midnight patrols to check levels of compliance of COVID-19 guidelines jointly conducted by Officers from Immigration and other the Security Wings, Health Officers and Nakonde Council Police.
He said they appeared before the Magistrate Court in Nakonde and were all convicted and each sentenced to pay a fine of K 3,000 or in default 9 months simple imprisonment.
Immigration Officers in Nakonde also apprehended 11 Ethiopian nationals for the offence of unlawful entry into the country
Mr Nshinka said the Ethiopians aged between 18 and 25 years were apprehended as they were walking along the Malawi Road, which leads to Chitipa in Malawi.
He said this was after a tip-off from concerned and alert members of the public, it is suspected that they entered Zambia using illegal bush paths with the intention to enter Malawi and later re-enter Zambia and use the Eastern Corridor to reach South Africa, their apparent destination.
Mr Nshinka said that they are currently detained at Nakonde Police Station pending prosecution.
He said during this same period the Department also removed 108 illegal immigrants from the country.
“Among those removed were 24 Congolese, removed by the Mongu Regional Immigration Office via Kasumbalesa Border Control. Investigations revealed that their movement was organized and that they entered Zambia through Kasumbalesa Border Control en route to Namibia,” he said.
