By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The Department of Immigration in Chipata has secured the conviction of two Zambians for harbouring illegal immigrants contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Edgar Tembo (32) and Richard Tembo (68), both Chipata Residents, were arrested on 14th January 2023 in Chipata after Immigration Officers found 12 undocumented Ethiopian nationals in a house belonging to Richard Tembo.
Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka said investigations revealed that the Ethiopians had been taken to the house by Edgar Tembo.
Mr Nshinka said the duo was jointly charged and was on August 16th 2023 convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour.
“The conviction is a culmination of months of investigations into a suspected case of human trafficking by a notorious syndicate to which Edgar Tembo and two others, Amon Steven Jere (40) of Chipata and Howard Banda (46) of Lusaka’s Lilanda are alleged to belong. The trio has been charged with participating in human trafficking, and the case is before the Courts of Law,” he said.
He said the Department wishes to warn members of the public to desist from aiding, abetting, and harbouring illegal immigrants as these are grave offences which, if one is convicted, attract a fine of up to Kwacha One Hundred and Fifty Thousand (K 150,000) or a prison term of five years or both.
