• Mufulira Immigration Office has secured the conviction of 02 Meheba based Somali Refugees.
• They were intercepted on 16th June, 2021 aboard a Tanker Truck.
• They have since paid the fines and have been returned to Meheba Refugee Camp.

Department of Immigration has disclosed that the Mufulira Magistrate Court has fined two Meheba based Somali refugees K 25,000 each or in default 4 months simple imprisonment for unlawful departure from Zambia and engaging in employment without Permits.

Immigration Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka said 27 year old Farah Abdi Halane and Mustafa Ahmed Mohamud 23, were intercepted on 16th June, 2021 aboard a Tanker Truck after they attempted to cross into Democratic Republic of Congo without appearing before Immigration for clearance.

Mr. Nshinka stated that it was later established that the duo had also been working for a named Transport Company Limited in Ndola as Truck Divers without permits or authority.

He added that the two refuges, who appeared before the Magistrate Court in Mufulira on 28th June, 2021, have since paid the fines and have been returned to Meheba Refugee Camp.

“The Mufulira Immigration Office has secured the conviction of 02 Meheba based Somali Refugees for unlawful departure from Zambia and engaging in employment without Permits contrary to sections 16(1) and 54 of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia, respectively.”

“They appeared before the Magistrate Court in Mufulira on 28th June, 2021 and were both convicted and each sentenced to pay a fine of K 25,000 or in default 4 months simple imprisonment. They have since paid the fines and have been returned to Meheba Refugee Camp. This brings the total number of convictions secured by the Department between 25th and 30th June 2021 to 60,” Mr. Nshinka said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nshinka revealed that between 25th and 30th June 2021, the Department removed 165 illegal immigrants from the country, who include 100 Congolese, 42 Ethiopians, 08 Burundians, and 07 Malawians.

“In another development, the Department between 25th and 30th June 2021 165 illegal immigrants from the country. Those removed were one hundred 100 Congolese, 42 Ethiopians, 08 Burundians, and 07 Malawians. Others were 04 Tanzanians, 02 Mozambicans, 01 Malian, and 01 Zimbabwean. During this period the Department also apprehended 64 persons for various offences country-wide.”

“We wish to encourage members of the public with information of an individual, business, or employer who may be aiding and abetting illegal immigrants to contact the Department of Immigration,” he added.