The Department of Immigration in Mpika District has detained 42 male Ethiopians aged between 14 and 35 years for illegal entry.
Namati H. Nshinka (Mr) 
immigration PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER Namati Nshinka disclosed that they were apprehended on 17th November, 2024 by a team of Officers from the Department of Immigration, Drug Enforcement Commission and other Security wings.
He explained that the a joint team swung into action after receiving a tip off from the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) Officers at Mpika weigh bridge who reported having stopped a Lusaka- bound Volvo truck bearing registration number ALP 9152 ZM carrying timber wood after it had by-passed the weigh bridge without weighing in.
He pointed out that the Joint team was called to the scene after the driver of the Truck fled the scene prompting the foreign nationals who had been concealed in the Truck’s Container to come out in an attempt to flee.
Mr Nshinka said the team of Officers quickly rushed to the scene and apprehended 38 undocumented Ethiopians.
He added that Four more Ethiopians were apprehended in the early hours of Tuesday, 19th November, 2024 after they were found wondering the nearby bushes, bringing the total number to 42.
immigration spokessperson said All 42 suspects are currently detained pending prosecution.
,”It is believed that the total number could be in excess of 50. Meanwhile, the Zambian Driver of the Truck remains at large.
Meanwhile, the Mafinga Immigration Office in Muchinga Province on 18th November, 2024 apprehended two male Chinese nationals Zhao Jun Weng (59) and Jie Yuan (48) and one female Qiongyao Zhang (42) for giving false information to an Immigration Officer.
The trio entered the country between 30th September and 15th November 2024 through Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and declared to have come into the Country for solar business but were found engaging in mining exploration activities in Mafinga District’s Chendausiku Village.
Having received a tip-off regarding the trio’s activities in the area, the Immigration Officers mounted a roadblock between Isoka and Mafinga where they intercepted the Chinese in a white Mitsubishi Pajero. Copper ore of unknown weight was found in the Mitsubishi Pajero. They are currently detained pending further investigations and possible prosecution.
The Mpika and Mafinga operations brought the number of persons apprehended for various immigration offences countrywide between 15th and 18th November, 2024 to 168.
Meanwhile, the Mokambo Immigration Office has secured the conviction of Jean Nduwayo, a 28-year-old male Burundian national for unlawful stay. Brief facts of the matter are that, Jean Nduwayo was arrested on 9th November, 2024 at around 12:00 hours when he attempted to leave the country through Mokambo Border Control by an Immigration Officer who after examining his Passport discovered that he had been in the country illegally having disregarded a notice to leave served on the 21st October, 2024. He was arrested and charged for unlawful stay contrary to section 11(3) of the Immigration and Department Act Number 18 of the Laws of Zambia. Consequently, on 15th November, the Mufulira Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced him to a fine of K 20,000 or six months simple imprisonment. The Mokambo judgement brought the number of convictions secured by the Department of Immigration countrywide between 15th and 18th November, 2024 to 16.
Further, the Department of Immigration between 15th and 18th November, 2024 removed 84 persons from the country and refused entry to four persons for failing to meeting entry requirements.
