Ailing Kambwili abandoned passport, says Mwiimbu

Jack Mwiimbu, the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security has confirmed that the State through the Immigration Department is in possession of Mr Kambwili’s passport after it was allegedly abandoned by a Zimbabwean at Chirundu Border.

According to Mr Mwiimbu, it was a Zimbabwean who had presented Mr Kambwili’s passport to the Zambian Immigration officers at Chirundu border whom he has accused of abandoning the passport.

“It must be placed on record that by crossing into Zimbabwe in the manner he did, Mr Chishimba Kambwili contravened section 16 (1) of the Immigration and Deportation Act number 18 of 2010 of the laws of Zambia, which mandates any person exiting the country to appear before an immigration officer for exit clearance formalities,” Mr Mwiimbu said yesterday at a media briefing in Lusaka.

Reacting to the Daily Nation story headlined; Ailing Kambwili stranded in Zim, Mr Mwimbu claimed that some unknown person purported to be of Zimbabwean origin presented Mr Kambwili’s passport at the immigration officers at Chirundu.

He said Zimbabwean fled from the immigration officers after he was asked to present Mr Kambwili before the officers and that the next the State learnt was that Mr Kambwili had crossed into Zimbabwe.

In his attempt to refute the Daily Nation story about Mr Kambwili being stranded in Zimbabwe, Mr Mwiimbu explained that on January 30, 2024, an unknown person purported to be of Zimbabwean origin presented Mr Kambwili’s passport to the immigration officer at Chirundu Border for exit clearance formalities.

“An unknown male person purporting to be of Zimbabwean origin presented a passport belonging to Chishimba Kambwili to an immigration officer at Chirundu Border post to have it stamped in the absence of the holder whom he claimed was not well enough to present himself for exit formalities,” Mr Mwiimbu said. “However, upon the officer’s insistence that the holder of the passport be brought to the counter for clearance, the unknown Zimbabwean fled leaving Mr Kambwili’s passport behind. Information gathered later revealed that he (Kambwili) had crossed into Zimbabwe,” Mr Mwiimbu said.

But Mr Changala has challenged the government to explain why Mr Kambwili’s medical evacuation was aborted after it had been confirmed and officially announced.

“Government has confirmed that Mr Kambwili’s passport was confiscated at Chirundu border but has not explained to Zambians as to what has happened to his medical evacuation to South Africa.

Zambians would want to know why Mr Kambwili decided to travel to South Africa by road when he was assured that his medical evacuation was going to be sponsored by Government.

Now Mr Kambwili has become a hunted man for attempting to save his own life by seeking medical attention in South Africa,” Mr Changala said.