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A 47-year-old Zimbabwean national has been fined K100,000 after being convicted of illegally entering and staying in Zambia and conducting business without a valid immigration permit.
The Department of Immigration said Alois Moyo was convicted by the Mkushi Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday following his arrest in Luano District, where he was allegedly posing as a traditional healer.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Chief Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka, Moyo was apprehended on October 1 after presenting himself to Senior Chief Mboroma as a traditional healer.
“During his arrest, he allegedly produced a Zimbabwean passport together with a Green National Registration Card (NRC) belonging to another person,” Nshinka said.
Read more: Zambia immigration secures conviction of Zimbabwean national, apprehends 64 others
Nshinka said Moyo appeared before Magistrate Lukonde on October 6 and was convicted on two counts of illegal entry and unlawful stay in Zambia, and conducting business without a valid immigration permit.
“The court fined him K50,000 on each count, bringing the total penalty to K100,000. In default of payment, he will serve nine months’ simple imprisonment on each count, with the sentences running concurrently,” according to Nshinka.
The department said Moyo was being held at Mkushi Correctional Facility pending payment of the fines and his subsequent removal from Zambia.
Meanwhile, the department has apprehended 17 foreign nationals during an immigration enforcement operation conducted in Mumbwa Town on Tuesday.
The suspects comprise 16 Burundian nationals and one Congolese national, all suspected of committing various immigration-related offences.
The department said the suspects remained in custody as investigations continued and possible prosecution was considered.
It commended Senior Chief Mboroma for his vigilance, saying his cooperation was instrumental in Moyo’s apprehension and prosecution.
The department also reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing Zambia’s immigration laws and urged members of the public to report suspected immigration offences to the nearest Immigration Office or other law enforcement agencies.
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