The Department of Immigration has apprehended 46 foreign nationals for committing various immigration offences countrywide.

The suspects were apprehended between 12th and 17th February 2021. They include 15 Ethiopians, 10 Tanzanians, nine Zimbabweans, six Congolese, three Burundians, one American, one Malawian and one Mozambican.

In a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Department of Immigration Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka explained that officers in Luangwa also apprehended 33 male Ethiopian nationals for illegal entry.

Mr. Nshinka said the group of Ethiopians aged between 16 and 29 was nabbed on 16th February 2021, in Chitope village, 45 kilometres from Feira (Luangwa) boma.

He noted that the group was nabbed during an operation conducted by Immigration officers and officers from other security wings following a tip-off from alert members of the community.

He added that the Ethiopians failed to produce documentation legalizing their entry into Zambia and have since been transferred to Lusaka pending court appearance.

In another development, Mr. Nshinka disclosed that the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office has secured the conviction of two Congolese nationals, Banza Ngoie 53 and Fabrice Tshimba Doko 31, for being found in possession of a forged immigration stamp and aiding and abetting illegal immigrants respectively.

He stated that particulars of the offence are that Banza Ngoie, the now convict, on dates unknown but between 1st and 3rd February, 2021 in Lusaka, did forge an entry endorsement stamp for Nakonde border control which he endorsed in a Burundian passport number OP0221555 belonging to Niyounkuru Mediatrice without lawful authority.

In the case of aiding and abetting illegal immigrants in which male Fabrice Doko a Congolese national was jointly charged with female Regina Ndayashimiye 33, a Rwandese national, particulars are that the duo aided and abetted the stay of an illegal immigrant named Niyounkuru Mediatrice without lawful authority.

Mr. Nshinka added that particulars of the offence are that the duo on 1st February, 2021 did aid and abet the stay of an illegal immigrant by the name of Niyounkuru Mediatrice without lawful authority.

Both Banza Ngoie and Fabrice Doko appeared before the magistrate court in Lusaka on 16th February 2021.

Mr. Nshinka said Ngoie was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour, without the option of a fine while Doko was sentenced to pay a fine of K15, 000 or in default nine months simple imprisonment, while Ndayashimiye denied the charge and her case will be subjected to trial.

In another court development, the Department of Immigration between 12th and 17th February, 2021, secured 35 convictions for various immigration offences with the convicts receiving sentences ranging from fines of K200 to K12, 000 or in default to serve 24 days to nine months simple imprisonment.

He explained that the convicts included 12 Congolese, nine Tanzanians, four Malawians, four Zimbabweans and two Burundians. Others were two Namibians, one Rwandese and one Senegalese.

He pointed out that during the same period, the department also removed 78 illegal immigrants from the country, including 18 Congolese, 15 Malawians, 11 Ethiopians, 11 Kenyans and 11 Zimbabweans. Others were five Tanzanians, four Burundians, one Chinese, one Egyptian and one Senegalese.

Mr. Nshinka has since encouraged members of the public with information of an individual, business, or employer who may be aiding and abetting illegal immigrants to contact the Department of Immigration

Police in Kafulafuta in the Copperbelt province have unearthed a scam where smugglers are concealing bags of mealie meal in empty 90 kg cement sacks for easy smuggling into the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Copperbelt Province Police Commissioner, Elias Chushi has confirmed to ZANIS that one truck laden with cement was found with 50 bags of 90 kilogrammes each.

The 90 kg sacks were each containing five by 25 kg bags of mealie meal.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Chushi said three trucks were impounded this morning around 05:00 hours.

He said each truck was laden with cement but one truck also had concealed mealie meal destined for the DRC.

Mr. Chushi said after checking thoroughly, it was discovered that 285 by 25 kilogramme bags of mealie meal were concealed in 90 kg branded cement sacks.

He said upon being interrogated, the drivers revealed that the trucks were destined for the DRC.

He said the matter is pending investigations.

Mr. Chushi said police in Masaiti have since detained a woman, who is the owner of the mealie meal in question.

He said police in province are working round the clock to curb smuggling especially that this is the time when the scourge is rife.

The Copperbelt Police Commissioner has since commended his officers at the borders for being vigilant and ensuring that the mealie meal does not get out of the country illegally.

Mr. Chushi was accompanied to the scene by Ndola District Police Commanding Officer, Emmanuel Bwalya.

The Opposition New Hope Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) has congratulated the United Party for National Development (UPND) for successfully hosting their Convention.

In a statement, New Hope MMD President, Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba congratulated UPND President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema for being re-elected as UPND President.

“On behalf of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy, (MMD) I would like to congratulate the UPND for holding a successful General Assembly. We further wish to congratulate Mr. Hakainde Hichilema for being re-elected as President of the UPND”, Dr. MUMBA said.

Dr. MUMBA then said that the UPND General Assembly was a great milestone in the promotion of Democracy in Zambia.

“This is a great milestone in our efforts to entrench the tenets of democracy both in our parties and the Nation. In the meantime, We wish Mr. Hichilema and the UPND family God’s blessings”, Dr. MUMBA said.

The MMD on Monday through their National Secretary Hon. Elizabeth Chitika announced that they would have their long-awaited 7th Extraordinary Convention on the 20th of March, 2021. And that all the 68 National Executive positions including that of the Party President will be up for grabs.

The state has entered a nolle prosequi in the case in which Patrick Mucheleka and three others stand charged with malicious damage to public property.

When the matter came up for continued trial in the Kasama Magistrate Court this morning,the state informed the court of its decision to discontinue the matter.

Patrick Mucheleka, Samuel Ngwira,Elias Mubanga and Kelvin Bwalya were arrested late last year during the Lukashya Parliamentary by-election for the offence of causing malicious damage to a type writer,printer and generator,a property of the Zambian Government.

The quartet who were initially charged with aggravated robbery and malicious damage had the aggravated robbery charged dropped.

They were represented by Mulambo Haimbe and Kamuwanga Phiri of Malambo and Company.

North-western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu has appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to consider prioritising the interests of the ex-miners, as they allocate the 500 plots in Kalumbila district.

Mr Mubukwanu said giving priority to the interest of the ex-miners will seek to address some of the challenges they have been encountering, which includes yearning for land, having settled in the province for a very long time.

ZANIS reports that the Minister was speaking when a team from the Ministry of Lands, who are in the province to allocate 500 plots to ex-miners in Kalumbila district, called on him.

“I am earnestly appealing to you to do all due diligence as you allocate these plots avoid creating conflicts with people who have settled in those areas”, Mr Mubukwanu said.

He also appealed to the ex-miners in the province to check their membership and avoid getting land for speculation purposes, but instead for production and support towards enhancing their livelihood.

Meanwhile, team leader, Principal Land Surveyor, Boniface Kayuni said government has released funds for the exercise of demarcating 500 plots to ex-miners in the country.

“Here in North-western province we are doing it at Meheba resettlement in Kalumbila district and we are expected to finish the works in one month time,” Mr Kayuni said

He said the demarcating of land is expected to be done within a period of one month.

Government has received a grant from Japan for the redevelopment of the Luangwa bridge. Luangwa bridge is a key piece of infrastructure required to support increased trade traffic capacity on the Nakara corridor, connecting to Beira port in Mozambique.

Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji disclosed this in Chipata last evening when he paid a courtesy call of paramount chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people in the Eastern Province.

Mr. Malanji, who was companied by Eastern Province Minister, Makebi Zulu and ruling Patriotic Front vice chairperson for mobilisation Geoffrey Mwamba, said the Luangwa bridge, which was built in the 1950s, is old and needs to be upgraded but did not disclose how much the grant is.

He said government wants to fully exploit the agriculture potential in the Eastern province.

The Foreign Affairs Minister further said government’s focus is to give impetus to the cotton farmers so that they can export the commodity to Turkey in Europe.

“We want to have one big farmer who will engage others in out grower scheme for cotton. Turkey is a big market for textile and we want to export our cotton,” Mr. Malanji said.

He said groundnut farmers will also be supported as modalities are in place to start exporting peanut butter to Saudi Arabia.

And paramount chief Mpezeni welcomed the decision government has taken to help cotton farmers and boost agriculture in general.

The traditional leader also praised government for paying attention to the development of road infrastructure.

He said working on the roads in Mambwe and Chipangali will ease the movement of cotton and groundnut produce to the market.

“It is good that you work on the Great East Road from Luangwa to Lusaka. You must also look at roads in Chipangali and Mambwe so that farmers can easily move their cotton to the central market,” he said.

He however lamented that currently, some cotton buyers exploit farmers hence the idea to bring in an organised buyer for export is welcome.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is in the Eastern Province to look at areas of economic potential that could be facilitated for international investment partnerships and trade.