Two officers of the Zambia Police Service have been sentenced along with a Lusaka businessman to two years imprisonment with hard labour for aiding and abetting 20 illegal immigrants of Ethiopian nationality.
Immigration Department Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka disclosed in a statement that the trio were arrested on March 15, 2018, when they aided and abetted the said immigrants in Muchinga Province who were set to be transported from Nakonde border to Mbala District.
“Three Zambians have been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour after being convicted for the offence of knowingly aiding and abetting illegal immigrants, contrary to section 46 (1) (a) of the Immigration and Deportation Act Number 18 of the Laws of Zambia. Immigration Officers in Mbala on 15th March, 2018, arrested Madonia Chikumbi, 36, a police officer of Sikanze Police Camp in Lusaka, Kafwa Kabwe (38), also a police officer and resident of Lusaka’s Chilenje, and Hilary Hamweene, 27, a businessman of Garden House, when they did aid and abet 20 illegal immigrants of Ethiopian nationality to be transported from Nakonde border to Mbala District. The trio was jointly charged with the offence of aiding and abetting and remanded into custody. They were sentenced at the Mbala Magistrates Court on 3rd September, 2018, to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour, without an option of a fine. The 20 Ethiopians whom they aided were earlier deported after paying court fines, having been convicted for unlawful entry into Zambia,” Nshinka disclosed.
And Nshinka disclosed that 11 Congolese nationals, seven minors, among them, aged between eight months and 15 years, were intercepted in Katima Mulilo, in a suspected case of human trafficking.
He also added that Department of Immigration had arrested 24 other people for various immigration offences throughout the country, between August 31 and September 3, 2018.
“11 Congolese nationals among them, seven minors, aged between eight months and 15 years, were intercepted in Katima Mulilo, in a suspected case of human trafficking. The foreigners, together with a Zambian male, were intercepted by police in the early hours of Tuesday, 4th September, 2018, around Nakatindi Village in Sesheke District and were handed to Immigration. Investigations in the matter have been instituted. Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration between 31st August, 2018, and 3rd September, 2018, arrested a total of 24 persons for various immigration offences countrywide. These were two Zimbabweans in Kariba, two Malawians in Lundazi, and two Tanzanians in Isoka, all for unlawful stay. Others were two Tanzanians in Kasama, two Malawians in Chipata, one Chinese in Mwinilunga, one Chinese, one Vietnamese in Lusaka and one Kenyan in Kasumbalesa. Those arrested for unlawful entry were four Congolese at Victoria Falls Border Control, two Congolese in Chingola, one Congolese in Lukwesa, and another Congolese in Kasumbalesa. Others were one Zimbabwean in Namafulo arrested for unlawful entry and doing business without a permit, and one Tanzanian in Nakonde arrested for unlawful stay and doing business without a permit,” he narrated.
And Nshinka cautioned that the conviction of the three Zambians for aiding and abetting illegal aliens should send a serious warning to citizens in the country to avoid the vice.
“We at the same time wish to commend all members of the public who have been proactive in reporting suspected cases of illegal migration and human trafficking to the Department. It is through their support that we can effectively enforce the Immigration and Deportation Act and contribute to the internal security of our country,” stated Nshinka.
