Immigration nabs 57 illegal immigrants

The Department of Immigration says it has apprehended 57 suspected illegal immigrants during a two-day clean-up operation in Lusaka’s Kanyama, Kabwata and Chinika areas. The operation, conducted on August 1 and 2, 2026, by the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office, resulted in the apprehension of 39 Burundian nationals, 12 Congolese, four Rwandans and two Indian nationals. In a statement issued on Saturday, Immigration Department Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka, said most of those apprehended, particularly the Burundian nationals, were intercepted while allegedly attempting to buy bread directly from delivery trucks for resale in grocery shops.

Others were found on the streets and failed to produce valid immigration documents when requested by immigration officers. “Further verification established that the two Indian nationals were legally in the country and were released after producing valid employment permits,” Nshinka said. He said some of the Burundian nationals were also found to be bona fide refugees and were directed to relocate to the Meheba and Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlements in accordance with the law.

The remaining suspects have been charged with failing to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer upon entering Zambia and unlawful stay and are expected to appear before court. Meanwhile, the Department has continued removing foreign nationals found to have violated Zambia’s immigration laws. On August 5, 23 Ethiopian nationals were removed from Zambia through Kenneth Kaunda International Airport after paying court fines for illegal entry.

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The Ethiopians had been apprehended in Muchinga Province before being transferred to Lusaka for onward removal to Ethiopia. In a separate operation on August 4, the Chipata Regional Immigration Office deported 11 Malawian nationals and removed another 10 through the Mwami One Stop Border Post. “Seven of the 11 deportees had completed prison sentences for criminal offences, including burglary, while four had served sentences for immigration-related offences,” Nshinka said.

The other 10 Malawian nationals were removed after paying court fines for immigration-related offences. The Department has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing Zambia’s immigration laws and urged all foreign nationals residing in the country to ensure they have valid immigration status.

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