203 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY

THE Lusaka Regional Immigration Office on January 20, 2024, removed 77 prohibited Immigrants from the country in a mass removal exercise.

Immigration Department Public Relations Officer Namathi Nshinka says those removed were 54 Burundians, 22 Tanzanians, and one Ugandan.

Mr Nshinka said 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.

"Those removed by the Kitwe Office were 34 Tanzanians and two Burundians. The Lusaka and Kitwe mass removal exercises brought the number of prohibited immigrants removed by the Department of Immigration between 17th and 21st January 2024 to 203," he said.

"Meanwhile, the Nakonde Immigration Office on 18th January 2024 secured the conviction of a 53-year-old male Rwandese national, Emile Nsabimana, for unlawful return and illegal entry. Nsabimana was arrested on 30th December, 2023 at Nakonde’s Power Tools Station for illegal entry and unlawful return having been initially removed from the country on 28th July, 2023 for an immigration offence. On 18th January 2024, the Nakonde Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced him to twelve months simple imprisonment without the option of a fine for unlawful return and K3,000 or nine months simple imprisonment for illegal entry."

He added that the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office, on January 17, 2024, secured the conviction of two Burudians, Joshua Tuyisenge ,26 and George Irakoze,26, for the offence of unlawful stay, contrary to section 11(3) of the Immigration and Deportation Act Number 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia. "Joshua Tuyisenge and George Irakoze were apprehended on 22nd December 2023 in the Chalala and Garden House Areas, respectively, during a routine compliance operation. On 17th January 2024, they were both convicted and each sentenced to pay a fine of K 30,000 or, in default, nine months simple imprisonment. The Nakonde and Lusaka court outcomes brought the number of convictions secured by the Department of Immigration between 17th and 21st January 2024 to 56," he disclosed.

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. 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 13th December 2023.

“However, on 18th January, 2024 the Petauke Immigration Office arrested Kapila after new evidence suggested he may have been implicit in the offence. Investigations are still ongoing."

Mr Nshinka narrated that the Petauke incident brought the number of persons apprehended by the Department of Immigration between 17th and 21st January 2023 countrywide to 96.