Six Burundians convicted for illegal stay, remanded in prison pending payment of K20,000 fine each

The Zambian Immigration has secured the conviction of six male Burundian nationals for unlawful stay in Zambia following a well-coordinated enforcement operation.

The six have been identified as Isaac Kuizera aged 39, Niyongabire Jean Claude (23), Christopher Irakaza (33), Pacifique Kuizera (42), Misigaro Venant Venuste (26), and James Tuyisenge (25).

Department of Immigration Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka, confirmed the arrest of the six in a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday.

Nshinka said they were apprehended on July 15, 2025 around 08:00 hours during an operation conducted in Chongwe District of Lusaka Province.

“The suspects were discovered operating grocery shops in the area without proper documentation when Immigration Officers, acting on a tip-off requested them to produce their passports or any valid identity documents, which they failed to do,” he said.

Investigations revealed that all six individuals were Burundian nationals who had violated Zambian Immigration laws by entering the country illegally through ungazetted ports of entry on various dates spanning between 2018 and 2025.

“The suspects had been residing and conducting business activities in Zambia without proper authority for extended periods, some for as long as seven years, while operating commercial enterprises without the requisite immigration permits,” Nshinka said.

On July 24, 2025 the Chongwe Magistrates’ Court convicted and sentenced each individual to pay a fine of K20,000 or serve six months simple imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of their Immigration violations.

Nshinka said all six convicts had been remanded at correctional facilities pending payment of their fines and subsequent removal from the country.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.