Two Zambians arrested for allegedly trafficking 12 Ethiopian nationals

The Kasama Regional Immigration Office has apprehended two Zambians identified as Honest Malibesa, aged 25, a businessman of Lusaka’s Chalala, and Goliat Makayi, aged 26, of Ndola, in connection with the suspected smuggling of 12 suspected Ethiopian nationals.

This is contained in a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday by the Department of Immigration Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka.

Nshinka said Police intercepted Honest Malibesa in the early hours of Tuesday at Nkolemfumu checkpoint in a Red Toyota Hilux- registration number BAT 8100.

He said this was after the Police spotted a known suspected smuggler in a White Hilux, which, together with the Red Hilux, had passed the checkpoint twice, seemingly surveying the checkpoint area.

“Officers attempted to stop the two vehicles at their third attempt to cross the checkpoint however, they only managed to stop the Red Hilux while the white Hilux, driven by an unknown person and the known suspected smuggler, sped off and remains at large,” Nshinka said.

Nshinka has also disclosed that the Chibombo Immigration Office, has apprehended two Zambians, Jeff Wesu aged 31 of Kapiri Mposhi and Edward Kakoma aged 28 of Lusaka, for aiding and abetting five suspected Ethiopian illegal immigrants aged between 16 and 28.

He said the group was intercepted by Police at the Chisamba Checkpoint in a Lusaka-bound Toyota Allex bearing Registration No. ACP 1421, which Jeff Wesu was driving.

Nshinka said all five Ethiopians and the two Zambians are detained at Mukobeko Medium Correctional facility in Kabwe, pending further investigations.

“The Katete Immigration Office, on 7th May 2023, apprehended 14 Malawian nationals for illegal entry and unlawful stay. They were arrested at the Mpoto checkpoint between 05:00 and 13:00 hours from various public service buses. They are all currently detained pending further investigations and possible prosecution,” he said.

Nshinka said the Kasama, Chibombo, and Katete incidents bring the number of persons apprehended for various immigration offences between 5th and 11th May 2023 to 162.

He said during this period, the Department secured 82 convictions, removed 49 prohibited immigrants from the country, and refused 40 foreign nationals’ entry into Zambia for failing to meet entry requirements.

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