The Chinsali Regional Immigration Office, on 15th January 2024, secured the conviction of a Congolese national, Valentin Masaka Mukendi (26), for failing to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer upon entry into Zambia, contrary to section 12(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act Number 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
He was nabbed on 5th January 2024 at Nambuluma Checkpoint aboard a Nakonde-bound Public Service Bus during a routine immigration status verification exercise.
The officers discovered that the Congolese national had no document granting him authority to be in the Country.
This led to his apprehension and detention at Nambuluma Police Station for suspected illegal entry.
Investigations later revealed that Valentin Masaka Mukendi did not appear before an Immigration Officer upon entering the Country.
Consequently, on 15th January 2024, the Chinsali Subordinate Court convicted and sentenced him to a fine of K 7,000 or two months simple imprisonment.
Similarly, on the same day, the Nakonde Immigration Office secured the conviction of a Somali national, Mohamed Anas Abdulkadir (24), for having a forged refugee certificate and failing to appear before the nearest immigration officer upon entry into Zambia, contrary to sections 52(4) and 12(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act Number 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia respectively.
Brief facts of the matter are that Abdulkadir was apprehended on the 29th December 2023, around 16:00 hours, at Wulongo Police Checkpoint by Police officers as a suspected prohibited immigrant and later handed over to the Immigration Office for further Immigration formalities.
Investigations revealed that on 29th December 2023, he entered Zambia through Nakonde Border Control illegally and boarded a Zimbabwe-bound In-Transit (I.T) vehicle without appearing before an Immigration Officer.
Upon reaching Wulongo Checkpoint, he was intercepted by Zambia Police Officers, who later handed him over to the Nakonde Immigration Office.
The Nakonde Subordinate Court, on 15th January 2024, convicted and sentenced him to a fine of K 6,000 or nine months’ simple imprisonment.
Further, the Solwezi Regional Immigration Office, on 16th January 2024, secured the conviction of a 26-year-old male Burundian Refugee for being found outside the refugee camp without a gate pass contrary to section 31(1) as read with section 56(1) of the Immigration and Deportation Act Number 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
Buruku Pascal was apprehended on 5th January 2024 during a routine operation in the areas of Solwezi.
When approached by immigration officers in Zambia compound, he identified himself as a Burundian Refugee.
Officers later discovered that the subject was, in fact, a Burundian Refugee who was outside the refugee camp without a gate pass.
He was apprehended and taken to Solwezi Regional Immigration Office, where he was arrested and charged with the material offence.
He was sentenced to pay a fine of K2,000 or, in default, three months of simple imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration, between 15th and 16th January 2024, apprehended 38 persons of different nationalities for various immigration offenses countrywide.
During this period, the Department removed 37 illegal immigrants, deported one prohibited immigrant from the Country, and refused four foreign nationals entry for failing to meet entry requirements.
Namati H. Nshinka (Mr)
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
