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The Department of Immigration Zambia says it has intensified enforcement operations across the country, resulting in the apprehension of 72 people for various immigration-related offences between April 7 and 8, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka, the operations also led to the removal of 72 illegal immigrants, the securing of 39 convictions, and the refusal of entry to seven foreign nationals who failed to meet entry requirements.
Nshinka said the operations were conducted in multiple provinces, with officers targeting unlawful stay, illegal entry, and other immigration violations.
In Muchinga Province, the Isoka Immigration Office apprehended 10 Ethiopian nationals — six females and four males aged between 23 and 29 — for failing to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer upon entry.
Read more: Two Tanzanians convicted for aiding illegal immigration as Zambia intensifies border enforcement
The arrests followed intelligence reports indicating that two Toyota Hilux vehicles suspected of transporting prohibited immigrants from Nakonde had evaded an official checkpoint using uncharted routes in the Chiko area. Immigration officers pursued the vehicles and intercepted one along the Chiwi airstrip.
“The driver fled the scene, but officers successfully apprehended the ten Ethiopian nationals. The suspects are currently detained awaiting court appearance, while the vehicle has been impounded,” Nshinka said.
In Lusaka, the Regional Immigration Office apprehended three Burundian nationals following a tip-off.
Investigations led officers to a shop in Matero, where a Burundian national identified as Clever Mukamrakiza, 35, was allegedly employing two suspected prohibited immigrants as shopkeepers.
The two suspected immigrants were identified as Jean Claude Mugisha, 28, and Fulgence Niyokindi, 27.
Preliminary investigations further revealed what authorities described as a suspected pattern in which individuals from Burundi are being recruited for employment in Zambia.
All three suspects are currently in custody.
Mukamrakiza is expected to be charged with aiding and abetting prohibited immigrants, while the two employees will be charged for unlawful stay.
Meanwhile, in Central Province, the Mkushi Immigration Office apprehended a 41-year-old Congolese national, Tshimanga Ngandu Eli, for unlawful stay and giving false information to a public officer.
Authorities said the suspect entered Zambia through Chembe Border on January 8, 2026, as a business visitor but remained in the country beyond the expiry of his visit on February 7, 2026.
On April 8, 2026, he allegedly attempted to fraudulently obtain a National Registration Card using a false identity.
He is currently detained at Mkushi Correctional Facility awaiting court proceedings.
During the same period, the Department removed 72 illegal immigrants from the country, including 19 prohibited immigrants removed by the Isoka Immigration Office.
Among those removed were 12 Burundian nationals for offences including unlawful stay, permit expiry, unlawful return, and failure to appear before an Immigration Officer.
Five Tanzanian nationals were also removed for offences such as altering Emergency Travel Documents, failure to appear before an Immigration Officer, and aiding and abetting prohibited immigrants.
The remaining individuals included one Rwandese national and one Ugandan national removed for various immigration offences.
Nshinka urged members of the public to desist from harbouring or aiding illegal immigrants and instead report any suspected cases to the nearest Immigration Office or law enforcement agency.
“The Department remains committed to enforcing immigration laws and safeguarding national security,” he said.
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