Security officers in Luangwa District have again intercepted 34 prohibited immigrants who were trying to use the Luangwa border to cross to South Africa.
Luangwa Police Officer In-Charge, Assistant Superintendent, Mataa Muleta and Immigration officers confirmed the interception of the 34 male Ethiopian immigrates who were suspected to cross the Zambezi river into Zimbabwe in route to South Africa.
Assistant Superintendent Mulata and the Immigration officers said the 34 Ethiopian Nationals entered Zambia through Nakonde border post from Tanzania and disembarked from the vehicle they were traveling in at Luangwa Bridge market in Rufunsa District as they were trying to avoid a police checkpoint which is mounted there.
They said the 34 immigrants who were arrested over the weekend were spotted by the alert community members who reported to the police and that when they realized that they been reported they went in different directions but where apprehended along the D145 Luangwa main road.
Assistant Superintendent Mulata further said one of the 34 was badly beaten by community members after they suspected him of being a ritual killer and is nursing wounds at Katondwe mission hospital.
He said the 33 were currently in police custody awaiting further instructions from Headquarters and efforts to get a comment from the Police and Immigration Spokespersons proved futile as their phones went unanswered.
Meanwhile Acting Luangwa District Commissioner, Jairos Simukoko also confirmed the arrest of the 34 prohibited immigrates and expressed that this should be a serious syndicate as this is the second time that another group of prohibited immigrants have been incepted by the Security wings.
Mr Simukoko said the first group comprising 16 Ethiopian Nationals was intercepted at Maozeka Council checkpoint by alert security wings last month in April and now it is the 34 who have again been intercepted.
He however commended the security wings and urged them to continue with their alertness so that human trafficking is reduced in the area.
Last month in April 16 prohibited Ethiopian Immigrants who were traveling in a Toyota Haice mini bus driven by two Zambian nationals were intercepted along the Luangwa D145 main road and appeared before the Luangwa Magistrate Court were they were fined K1000 each or six months imprisonment in default.
This simply shows how porous our border is..very easy to get in…we should be asking how they got in in the first place at Nakonde border post.
@Jay Jay: I think the first thing you should establish is the documents/methods these people use/present when entering Zambia through Nakonde. Remember, it is NOT ILLEGAL or UNUSUAL for people to cross into Zambia from, say Tanzania, to do their daily businesses or shopping. This is very common in many border cities in Zambia. The same thing happens between Livingstone and Vic. Falls town on the Zimbabwean side ( I remember doing the same thing when I was a student at Hillcrest, crossed into Zim on several occasions, on a one day pass, to see the Vic Falls from the other side.) Likely the situation at Nakonde border post (Zambia/Tanzania) can’t be any different if people present themselves as legitimate day-visitors. I am sure these people do NOT show up at the border in large groups…
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…in large groups (like an Ethiopian Football team) to void raising any suspicions. They probably only regroup miles inside Zambia at a central point where they hook up with their Zambian contacts/smugglers. To me the criminals Zambians who are making arrangements to pick these people up and transport them across the country avoiding police detection—and who knows well how to avoid the police than Zambian locals?
It is very clear that there is a lot of money being paid by these desperate souls from Ethiopia and people/Zambians are willing to take the risk. To me these are the human trafficking syndicates which should be investigated, prosecuted and smashed—SO GIVE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS A BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, BULULU!
Its that bad that Somalians would rather just pass through Zambia en route to the South. They are in transit, let go!!!!
My concern is that, they entered Nakonde border, and apprehended in Luangwa, going to south Africa? isnt true? they wanted to Use Mwami Border?
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…in large groups (like an Ethiopian Football team) to void raising any suspicions. They probably only regroup miles inside Zambia at a central point where they hook up with their Zambian contacts/smugglers. To me the criminals Zambians who are making arrangements to pick these people up and transport them across the country avoiding police detection—and who knows well how to avoid the police than Zambian locals?
It is very clear that there is a lot of money being paid by these desperate souls from Ethiopia and people/Zambians are willing to take the risk. To me these are the human trafficking syndicates which should be investigated, prosecuted and smashed—SO GIVE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS A BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, BULULU!
Ooops, wrong place!!!!!
Jay Jay Nakonde border is like a house with a driveway but without any perimeter barrier. You can choose to enter through the driveway or any other point of your choice. Apparently most of our borders without any natural barrier are like that. No wonder some American is talking about building a wall…
Well done Zambian security officers. At times gratitude is all that needs to be passed.
Is it ‘journalistic’ or even ethically correct to use the term ‘batch’ in reference to a group of human beings?
What worries me is that Zambians were even driving them, assisting the sneak out of the country. As a patriotic Zambian I would just drive these guys straight to the nearest police station and tell them that we are actually at an Ethiopian restaurant where they can buy their local food, then I alert the police to catch them.
What these illegals need to be enlightened on is that complicity to be smuggled carries with it a penalty of 15 years with hard labour
Why an earth would anyone risk to cross to a nation full of xenophobia? I still remember watching the news on BBC the atrocities committed by south Africans over fellow Africans, it was utterly disgusting. if only these poor Ethiopians realise there is no better place than home.