TANZANIAN FINED K 180,000 FOR AIDING AND ABETTING SEVEN UNDOCUMENTED ETHIOPIANS

6th June, 2024

The Isoka Magistrate Court on 3rd June, 2024 convicted and sentenced a 44-year-old Tanzanian to a fine of K 180,000 or in default seven months simple imprisonment for aiding and abetting seven Ethiopian Illegal Immigrants.

In a statement this morning, Immigration Department Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka said Brayson Joackim Ngonyani was apprehended by the Isoka Immigration Office on 27th May, 2024 at the Mwaiseni Checkpoint after seven undocumented Ethiopians were found concealed in a Lusaka-bound Howo Truck and Trailer which he was driving.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nshinka said four of the seven Ethiopian nationals were each fined K10, 000- or nine-months simple imprisonment for failing to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer on entry while the Court referred the other three for age determination as they claimed to be Juveniles.

Mr. Nshinka further stated that the Zambezi Immigration Office on 31st May, 2024 secured the conviction of a 24-year-old Zambian female, Priscar Seleyi for harbouring and engaging in business with a foreign national whose status does not permit.

Mr. Nshinka noted that Ms. Seleyi was sentenced to pay a fine of K 5,000 or in default four months simple imprisonment, in each count.

He said investigations revealed that Priscar Seleyi accommodated and engaged her Tanzanian partner who had been staying the country illegally.

“Furthermore, the Ndola Regional Immigration Office on 4th June, 2024 secured the conviction of a 29-year-old Tanzanian Nail Technician, Paulo Faustine Paulo for engaging in business without a permit. He was sentenced to pay a fine of K 10,000- or eight-months simple imprisonment. He was apprehended at Ndola Town Centre’s Chisokone Market after he was found working as a nail technician in a named shop without a permit. Similarly, the Ndola Magistrate Court on the same day convicted and sentenced a 44-year-old Congolese national Basenga Nawej Thethe to a fine of K 10,000- or eight-months simple imprisonment for illegal entry and unlawful stay.” Mr. Nshinka said

And Mr. Nshinka added that the Mufulira Magistrate Court on 3rd June, 2024 convicted and sentenced a 44-year-old Zimbabwean Truck Driver to a fine of K 20,000 or nine-months simple imprisonment for failing to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer on exit.

Mr. Nshinka said Jefta Gamboreshuma was apprehended at a checkpoint near Mokambo Border control after it was discovered that there was no exit stamp in his passport.

Mr. Nshinka noted that Gamboreshuma was intercepted as he attempted to cross into the Democratic Republic of Congo with a DAF Truck transporting a maize-threshing machine.

He said the Isoka, Zambezi, Ndola and Lusaka Court outcomes brought the number of convictions secured by the Department of Immigration between 31st May and 5th June, 2024 to 81.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nshinka stated that the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office on 5th June, 2024 apprehended 36 suspected illegal immigrants in a routine clean-up operation in various parts of Lusaka.

He said those apprehended in the operation aimed at riding the Province of illegal immigrants were 22 Burundians, nine Tanzanians, four Congolese and one Rwandese.

“All suspects were undocumented at the time of the operation and are detained pending screening. The Lusaka operation brought the number of persons apprehended between 31st May and 5th June, 2024 to 165.”

“In addition, the Department between 31st May and 5th June, 2024 removed 102 illegal immigrants and refused 14 foreign nationals’ entry for failing to meet entry requirements” Mr. Nshinka said