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The Department of Immigration has reported multiple convictions across the country for immigration-related offences, warning that aiding, abetting and harbouring prohibited immigrants carries heavy penalties.
In Lusaka, the Magistrate Court convicted Kelvin Kunda, 46, a Burundian national, for harbouring illegal immigrants contrary to Section 46(1)(viii) of the Immigration and Deportation Act, Chapter 123 of the Laws of Zambia.
According to a statement issued by Department of Immigration Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka, the court fined Kunda K81,000, in default two years imprisonment with hard labour.
Investigations established that he was a recognised Burundian refugee residing in Zambia.
“The convict, a recognised Burundian refugee residing in Zambia, travelled to Burundi in August 2024 and returned to Zambia with two Burundian juveniles. Although the two minors were granted 30 days’ visitor status upon entry, he failed to regularise their stay upon expiry of the authorised period and continued harbouring them unlawfully,” Nshinka said.
He said Kunda was subsequently arrested and prosecuted for harbouring the two prohibited immigrants.
In Choma, the Magistrate’s Court convicted two Zambian nationals, Nephas Mudenda, 39, and Coness Muchindu, 30, for aiding and abetting illegal immigrants contrary to the Immigration and Deportation Act, Chapter 123 of the Laws of Zambia.
“The court fined each convict K140,000, in default nine months imprisonment with hard labour,” Nshinka stated.
He said the convictions arose from an operation conducted on 30th December, 2025, after the Zambia Police Service intercepted the duo in Choma while transporting nine prohibited immigrants.
Nshinka stated that the group comprised five Ethiopian nationals, three Somali nationals and one Bangladeshi national.
Investigations established that the two had been paid to transport the illegal immigrants from Lusaka to Livingstone after they had unlawfully entered Zambia through Nakonde.
On July, 16, 2026, the Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate’s Court convicted seven Ethiopian nationals for failure to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer upon entry into Zambia, contrary to the Immigration and Deportation Act, Chapter 123 of the Laws of Zambia.
“Each was fined K10,000, in default five months simple imprisonment,” Nshinka said.
He said the seven Ethiopian nationals were apprehended on 4th July, 2026 after officers from the Kapiri Mposhi Immigration Office intercepted an unregistered Nissan NV150 AD motor vehicle along the Kapiri Mposhi–Nakonde Road.
Read More: 165 detained in Lusaka Immigration sweep, more arrests recorded in Ndola
The vehicle was destined for Zimbabwe.
Nshinka noted that the seven individuals were in possession of Ethiopian passports that did not bear Zambian entry endorsement stamps.
In the same matter, Simukanzye Fred Mpumpu, 34, of Mbala District, who is charged with aiding and abetting the illegal entry of the seven Ethiopian nationals into Zambia, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty before the Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Court on 17th July, 2026.
“The matter was adjourned to 20th July, 2026 for mitigation and sentencing,” he said.
Separately, on Saturday, July, 18, 2026, the Department physically removed forty-three Ethiopian nationals through Kenneth Kaunda International Airport after they paid court-imposed fines for the offences of illegal entry and unlawful stay.
Nshinka reiterated that aiding, abetting, harbouring or facilitating the illegal entry or unlawful stay of prohibited immigrants was a serious criminal offence that attracts severe penalties.
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