• Immigration Officers raided a three bedroom house in Zanimuone.
• Some of the Captives appeared to have been physically abused, starved and deprived of freedom of movement.
• They were found sleeping on the floor of the house with windows completely covered by heavy dark curtains.

Department of Immigration has intercepted 114 Ethiopians in Lusaka’s Zanimuone area in a suspected human smuggling case.

Immigration Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka disclosed to Money FM News that on Saturday last week, Officers raided a 3 bedroom house in the said area following a tip-off from members of the public.

Mr. Nshinka stated that some of the Captives appeared visibly physically abused, starved, and deprived of freedom of movement, as they were found sleeping on the floor of the house.

“The Ethiopians, some of whom visibly appeared to have been physically abused, starved and deprived of freedom of movement were found sleeping on the floor of the house whose windows were completely covered by very heavy dark curtains. Preliminary investigations suggest that the Ethiopians have been held in the house for at least six (06) months,” Mr. Nshinka revealed.

He said the vulnerable state in which the captives were found indicates the merciless nature of human traffickers and smugglers.

“This is why the Department is doing everything possible to apprehend anyone connected to these criminal activities. To this effect, we wish to encourage anyone with information on the people behind this criminality to come forward.”

Mr. Nshinka stated that all the 114 are being held pending conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nshinka disclosed that the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office has jointly charged two Congolese and one Rwandese for being found in possession a forged immigration stamp.

“Particulars are that male Banza Kalumba Ngoie (53) a Congolese national, jointly and while acting together with male Fabrice Tshimba Doko (31) a Congolese national and female Ndayashimiye Regina (33) a Rwandese national on dates unknown but between 1st and 3rd February, 2021 in Lusaka did forge an entry stamp for Nakonde Border Control which was endorsed in a Burundian Passport number OB0221555 belonging to female Niyonkuru Mediatrice, without lawful authority.”

“This was after the trio were implicated in an incident in which Niyonkuru Mediatrice, a Rwandese national who was leaving Zambia was intercepted by alert Immigration Officers at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for being in possession of a forged entry endorsement stamp for Nakonde Border Control as well as a forged visa receipt,” he said.

Mr. Nshinka explained that the forged stamp was later traced to Banza Kalumba Ngoie, while a search on Mr. Ngoie resulted in the discovery of 01 fake stamp for Nakonde Border Control, and 01 Congolese passport bearing a forged Kipushi stamp.

“Lastly, Immigration Officers in Nyimba, Eastern Province have apprehended 36 male Ethiopian nationals for failing to appear before an Immigration Officer on entry. They all failed to produce documentation legalizing their entry and stay in Zambia and are currently detained at Nyimba Correctional Facility pending Court appearance.”

“This brings the total number of Ethiopians detained by the Nyimba Immigration Officer for failing to appear before an Immigration Officer on entry to 69 in just over a week,” he added.