SUWALI

By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-
MORE than 200 illegal immigrants and refugees without permits, among them church leaders, have been apprehended on suspicion of conducting illegal activities such as abductions and sexual abuses.
A joint team of Police, Immigration and Registrar of Societies officers yesterday raided some churches in Chibolya and Kabwata townships from where suspects were taken to Immigration offices for further screening.
Those that would be found without proper documentation would be prosecuted as it is an offence to stay in Zambia illegally.
The operation resulted in the ban of the Free Pentecost Assemblies operating from Kabwata Community Hall with more than 600 members from worshiping because they were using a document from their headquarters.
Chief registrar of societies Kakoma Kanganja and Ministry of Home Affairs public relations officer Moses Suwali, said the operation was a wake-up call for other churches, institutions and individuals who were using churches as a frontlines for conducting illegal activities.
In Chibolya Township, the team was met with resistance at International Pentecost Calvary Church, mostly hosting immigrants from Burundi and Rwanda as the church’s leaders resisted to allow the officials to carry out their operations on grounds that there was no notification given.
Church secretary Desire Habimana told Mr Kanganja and his team to respect the church and not disrupt its service at will.
More than 50 members were found worshiping at the church and did not look moved until when their church pastor, who is also the founding member, Elie Mazipaka announced to them that they needed to undergo an identification process through the production of their identification documents.
Mr Habimana said the conduct of the officers would be chasing members from worshiping as they would fear being raided.
But Mr Kanganja and Mr Suwali said that the Government had the mandate to screen church members and the church’s registration even without giving any notice.
Mr Kanganja said the Government was concerned with reports it was receiving that some churches were being used to harbour criminal activities such as kidnappings, sexual abuses and harbouring  prohibited immigrants who were staying in the country illegally.
He said his office had received several reports that some churches were being used to conduct illegal activities which included sexual offences, and it was the Government’s role to curb such activities.
Mr Suwali said the Government was also concerned that some churches were harbouring illegal immigrants which was against the laws of Zambia.