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A 58-years-old woman of Ndola has been convicted to pay a fine of K15,000 or in default nine months simple imprisonment for harbouring Tanzanian nationals.
Alice Namukonda of Masala was arrested by the Ndola Immigration Department on an offence of harbouring illegal immigrants contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that Namukonda on February 24, 2023 in Ndola knowingly and unlawfully haboured four Tanzanian illegal immigrants by way of offering them accommodation.
She was apprehended on the same day in Masala during a clean-up operation after the officers found four undocumented Tanzanian nationals in her house.
Namukonde appeared before the Ndola Magistrate Court on Thursday where she was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 15,000 or in default nine months simple imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the Nakonde Immigration Office on Tuesday secured the conviction of a 24-year-old Rwandese, Emmanuel Moses Mukunzi for unlawful return contrary the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that Mukunzi on March 2, 2023 in Nakonde, having been removed from Zambia as a prohibited immigrant on February 23, 2023, did unlawfully return.
Immigration Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka said in a statement issued on Friday that the Rwandese was apprehended on March 2, 2023 aboard a Lusaka–bound Public Service Bus during a routine immigration status verification exercise.
He was sentenced to 12 months simple imprisonment without the option of a fine.
In Monze, the Immigration Office on Tuesday secured the conviction of four Rwandese Refugees for engaging in business without permits contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
They were apprehended on March 7, 2023 during a clean-up operation after they were found working in Grocery Shops without permits.
They were each sentenced to pay a fine of K 1,750 or in default nine months simple imprisonment.
They have since paid the fines and were transferred to the Makeni Refugee Transit Home.
The Ndola, Nakonde and Monze court outcomes bring the number of convictions secured by the Department between March 10 and March 16, 2023 to 86.
Nshinka said during the period the Department apprehended 159 persons of different nationalities for various immigration offences, including 50 apprehended in a clean-up operation conducted on March 10, 2023 in various parts of Lusaka.
The Department also removed 51 illegal immigrants from the county and refused 22 foreign nationals entry into the country for failing to meet entry requirements.
Further, the Immigration Office at Katima-Mulilo Border Control on March 10, 2023 received 45 Zambians removed from Namibia by that country’s authorities.
He said they were removed for various offences including unlawful entry, assault, escaping from lawful custody, house breaking and drug possession.
Contributed by Julius Phiri
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