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The Department of Immigration says it has apprehended 97 suspected illegal immigrants, removed 85, and secured 28 convictions for various immigration offences during routine operations conducted across the country between May 30 and June 1, 2025.
This is according to a statement issued on Monday by the Department’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka, who noted that the operations were part of ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws and maintain national security.
In Lusaka, a major operation conducted on June 1 covered multiple areas including Balastone, Chaisa, SOS, Obama, Kabanana, Kalingalinga, Mutendere, and Garden Chililu.
The exercise led to the apprehension of 48 suspected illegal immigrants — 46 males and two females.
The group comprised 39 Burundians, seven Congolese, one Rwandan, and one Somali national, all of whom were either undocumented or found conducting business without valid immigration permits.
“One female Congolese national was released after producing a temporary permit receipt, while the remaining individuals are currently detained pending further screening and possible prosecution,” Nshinka stated.
Meanwhile, the Kasempa Immigration Office apprehended 21 individuals in the Nyansolo area of Mufumbwe District on May 27 and 28. Among them were 20 Tanzanians and one Congolese refugee, all suspected of engaging in illegal mining.
Ten of the Tanzanians were detained for unlawful stay, while the remaining ten were charged with giving false information to an Immigration Officer.
The Congolese refugee was detained for being outside a designated settlement without a valid pass. All suspects remain in custody awaiting prosecution.
In North-Western Province, the Solwezi Regional Immigration Office on May 29 apprehended 14 Congolese refugees — 10 males and four females — for conducting business without permits in the Kisasi area.
During the same operation, a 22-year-old Zambian national, Stanley Abasi, was arrested for obstruction after he attempted to interfere with immigration officers, allowing one suspect to escape.
In Eastern Province, the Chipata Regional Immigration Office detained 14 suspected illegal immigrants on May 31 during routine compliance checks in the Central Business District.
The group included 12 Malawians who were apprehended for illegal entry, while two others — suspected to be undocumented Malawians claiming Zambian nationality — are still under investigation.
On May 30, the Lundazi Immigration Office also apprehended seven suspected Malawian nationals in Chasefu District during an operation targeting the Friday market along the Zambia–Malawi border.
The individuals are currently in custody and awaiting prosecution.
In a related development, the Chingola Immigration Office claimed it successfully removed 19 Malawian nationals through Mwami Border Control on June 1.
The individuals had earlier been fined by the courts between K1,500 and K6,000 for offences including illegal entry, unlawful stay, and trading without permits.
Eighteen of the 19 had been apprehended on February 21 in Chiwempala and Lulamba areas of Chingola following long-running investigations.
Many of the suspects were reportedly involved in the sale of second-hand tyres.
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