Barely two days after deporting 242 illegal immigrants, the Department of Immigration in Zambia has again intercepted 175 illegal immigrants.
The Ndola Regional Immigration Office in the Copperbelt Province on Saturday apprehended 175 suspected illegal immigrants during a clean-up operation conducted with the support of other security wings.
Following screening and verification processes, 83 individuals were released unconditionally after producing documentary proof of lawful presence in the country or confirmation of Zambian nationality.
25 were directed to report to the Ndola Regional Immigration Office on Monday for further verification, while fifteen refugees of Congolese origin were mandated to self-relocate to the Meheba Refugee Settlement in line with established refugee management regulations.
Meanwhile, in Southern Province towards the route to the Namibian border, the Department apprehended seventeen Ethiopian nationals for failure to appear before the nearest Immigration Officer on entry into Zambia.
Within the same area the Immigration Office apprehended 11 Ethiopian nationals aged between 17 and 36.
6 of them were in possession of valid Ethiopian passports but had no Zambian entry endorsement stamps.
The information was also shared with the Zambia Army in Mapatizya.
Acting on the information, immigration officers working jointly with the army apprehended the suspects.
The six were found with valid passports except for one who was undocumented.
Those with passports did not have Zambian entry endorsements and disclosed that they had been abandoned in the bush by unknown individuals while allegedly attempting to transit to South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
The Department of Immigration Chief Public Relations Officer Namati Shinka has reiterated that while Zambia remains committed to facilitating lawful travel, trade and regional integration, all foreign nationals are required to comply with immigration laws, including presenting themselves before immigration officers upon entry and obtaining appropriate permits for their intended activities.
The Department further commends members of the public and cooperating security wings for their continued support and encourages citizens to report suspected immigration violations to the nearest Immigration Office.