• Those removed and relocated were among the Three-Hundred and Thirteen detained in the three-day clean-up operation.
• The Department relocated the refugees to Mayukwayukwa and Maheba Refugee Camps.
• Mpika Immigration Office secured the conviction of three Tanzanian Truck Divers.

Department of Immigration reveals it has removed One Hundred and Ninety illegal immigrants from the country and has relocated Ninety Five Refugees of different nationalities in a mass removal and relocation exercise.

Immigration Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka noted those removed and relocated were among the Three-Hundred and Thirteen detained in the three-day clean-up operation recently conducted in various parts of Lusaka.

Mr. Nshinka explained that the Department relocated the refugees to Mayukwayukwa and Maheba Refugee Camps as they had no authority to be outside the refugee camps however stating that the Department released the other Twenty-Eight upon production of proof of valid immigration status.

“In other parts of the country, the Department, between 30th and 31st May, 2022 also removed fifty illegal immigrants from the country,” he disclosed.

Mr. Nshinka further added that the Mpika Immigration Office, on 30th May, 2022 secured the conviction of three Tanzanian Truck Divers; Mashemb Benson aged 30, Ahmed Mohamed aged 29, and Kambona Malale aged 36, for the offences of aiding illegal immigrants to enter Zambia contrary to section 46(1)(a)(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act Number 18 of 2010.

He said they were each sentenced to pay a fine of K 60,000 or, in default, two years simple imprisonment.

“The Mpika convictions bring the number of convictions secured by the Department between 30th and 31st May 2022 to Fifty-Three,” Mr. Nshinka noted, further indicating that during this period, the Department also apprehended Thirty-Three persons for various immigration offences countrywide.

“The convictions of the three Drivers in Mpika must serve as a warning to any person having similar ideas. Like harbouring, aiding is a grave offence, and the punishment meted on the three Tanzanians is only the minimum, the maximum being K 150,000 or 5 years.” He warned.

The Department of Immigration Public Relations officer also urged refugees to get the necessary permission to leave the refugee settlements.