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The Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced a 34-year-old Zambian man for aiding and abetting the illegal entry of seven Ethiopian nationals into Zambia, the Department of Immigration has announced.
Fred Mpumpu of Nakonde District appeared before the court on Monday, 20th July, 2026, where he was found guilty contrary to the provisions of the Immigration and Deportation Act, Chapter 123 of the Laws of Zambia.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Department of Immigration Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka said the Court sentenced Mpumpu to pay a fine of K80,000.
In default of payment, Mpumpu will serve two years imprisonment with hard labour.
Nshinka said Mpumpu’s arrest followed an operation conducted on 4th July, 2026, by officers from the Kapiri Mposhi Immigration Office.
“The operation was triggered by a report from Zambia Revenue Authority officers at the Enforcement Centre along the Kapiri Mposhi–Nakonde Road,” he said.
Nshinka said ZRA officers had flagged an unregistered in-transit Nissan NV150 AD motor vehicle suspected of transporting prohibited immigrants and Immigration officers intercepted the vehicle and conducted a search.
He said during the search, officers discovered seven Ethiopian nationals inside the vehicle and all were found in possession of Ethiopian passports that did not bear Zambian entry endorsement stamps.
“On 16th July, 2026, the Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Court also convicted the seven Ethiopian nationals. They were found guilty of failure to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer upon entry into Zambia,” Nshinka said.
He stated that each of the seven foreigners was fined K10,000 and in default of payment, each was sentenced to five months simple imprisonment.
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Nshinka said the convicted individuals were currently detained at Mukobeko Correctional Facility and would remain there pending payment of the fines and subsequent removal from Zambia.
“The court also dealt with the vehicle used in the offence. A Notice of Seizure was issued in respect of the Nissan NV150 AD motor vehicle,” he said.
Nshinka said forfeiture proceedings for the vehicle were scheduled to come before the Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Court on July, 23, 2026.
In a separate operation, the Department of Immigration apprehended 43 suspected illegal immigrants during a clean-up operation conducted within Lusaka District.
The group comprises 31 Burundian nationals, 11 Congolese nationals and one Rwandan national and all were found to be undocumented at the time of arrest.
“The 43 individuals are currently undergoing immigration processing in accordance with the law,” Nshinka said.
He reminded members of the public that aiding, harbouring or facilitating the illegal entry or stay of prohibited immigrants is a serious offence.
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