The Department of Immigration in Solwezi has secured a conviction for a 35-year-old Ugandan national, Kaaya Sadabu, for unlawfully returning to Zambia after being deported.

In a statement, Thursday, Department of Immigration Public Relations officer Namati Nshika said Kasabu, who was charged with four other counts, namely unlawful stay, working without a permit, using a forged Tanzanian passport and concealing his identity and citizenship, was sentenced to two years, one month with hard labour.

“The Department of Immigration in Solwezi on 26th November 2018 secured the conviction of a Ugandan deportee for unlawful return to Zambia, contrary to section 36(5) as read with section 56(1) of the Immigration and Deportation Act number 18 of the Laws of Zambia. Kaaya Sadabu, a 35-year-old Ugandan male herbalist of Kabwiku area in Solwezi was on 13th November 2018 in Solwezi, found to have unlawfully returned to Zambia after being deported. The Ugandan herbalist was also convicted on four other counts, namely unlawful stay, working without a permit, using a forged Tanzanian passport and concealing his identity and citizenship. He was sentenced to two years and one-month imprisonment with hard labour for all five counts,” Nshinka stated.

And Nshinka stated that the department had convicted four other foreign nationals, including one Tanzanian, two Congolese and one Egyptian for unlawful stay in the country.

“Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration between 23rd and 27th November 2018, secured the conviction of four other foreign nationals countrywide. These include two Congolese and one Tanzanian, convicted for unlawful stay. An Egyptian was also convicted for unlawful entry and stay. During this period the Department arrested a total of forty-three 43 persons for various offences countrywide. These were six Congolese in Kasumbalesa, four Zimbabweans in Kariba, one Tanzanian, one Burundese and one Congolese in Mpika, all arrested for unlawful entry. Those arrested for unlawful stay were one Tanzanian and one Burundese in Mbala, one Zimbabwean in Livingstone and another Zimbabwean in Lusaka. Others were one (01) Congolese in Chingola, one Lebanese in Sinazongwe, one Tanzanian in Mufulira and one South African in Kazungula,” read the statement.

“Others arrested were 13 Chinese in Lusaka, for working without permits, and three Ethiopians and two Somalis in Kapiri Mposhi, for unlawful entry and stay. Meanwhile, one Tanzanian and one Rwandese in Mpika were arrested for bearing forged endorsement stamps in their travel documents, while one Congolese in Chirundu was arrested for being in possession of a forged visa. Lastly, one Zambian in Kapiri Mposhi was arrested for aiding illegal immigrants. The Department of Immigration between 23rd and 27th November 2018 also removed 17 illegal immigrants from the country and refused entry to two foreign nationals.”