By CHATULA KAMPO –
GOVERNMENT says a combined team of security wings has intensified patrols in border areas to curb illegal entry of foreigners into Zambia.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Stephen Kampyongo, in an interview yesterday, said the number of checkpoints around the border areas would be also increased.
He said a combined team of immigration and police officers were in the border areas to ensure that no one entered the country illegally.
Mr Kampyongo said Government was concerned about the number of foreigners being arrested for entering the country illegally.
He, however, expressed displeasure at some Zambians who were helping some foreigners enter the country through illegal routes.
The deputy minister said a joint operation of officers from security wings with specialised skills were in the border areas to screen for illegal immigrants who might be concealed in containers and other vessels.
Zambia has in the recent past witnessed an influx of illegal immigrants, some from as far as West African countries and beyond the continent.
On Wednesday, the Immigration Department said 14 foreigners from different countries have been convicted and fined for illegal entry into Zambia.
The fourteen were convicted and fined from different courts across the country on Tuesday this week.
According to statement released by the Immigration Department public relations officer Namati Nshinka, the convicts were from Guinea, Nigeria, Pakistani, Bangladesh and Uganda.
The Sesheke magistrate’s court convicted and fined five Guineans and two Nigerians K 6,000 each for being in possession of forged passports and for illegal entry into the country.
In default, the convicts would serve one year simple imprisonment in each count to run concurrently.
The seven were found in possession of an endorsement of a forged stamp in their passport contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
The Guineans convicted are Djalo Mamadu, 31, Barry Thierno Amadou, 27, Barry Mamoudou, 29, Diallo Mamadou, 26, and Bah Mamadou Dian, aged 28.
The two Nigerians are Ubah Obinna Daniel, 28, and 26-year-old Nnadio Ukochuku.
They were arrested on February 9 this year at a lodge in Sesheke following a tip by members of the public.
The convicts did not have visas to enter Zambia and also had fake entry endorsements bearing a Nakonde code in their passports.
In Isoka, the magistrate’s court on Tuesday convicted and fined four Pakistani and two Bangladeshi nationals K 2,500 each for unlawful entry into Zambia.
In Solwezi, two Ugandan traditional healers were fined K1,000 each or in default nine months simple imprisonment for illegal entry into Zambia.
Meanwhile, 21 foreigners were this week arrested for illegal entry into the country.
The 21 included Malawians, Nigerians, Somalis, Congolese and Tanzanians.
They were arrested from Chipata, Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Kawambwa, Kasama and Solwezi.
The others were arrested at Chirundu and Kasumbalesa border areas.