ZAMBIA has for a long time been host to various foreign nationals as refugees, most of whom came into the country illegally.
This has put pressure on the country’s meager resources and social amenities which have been outstripped by an increased population.
In some urban areas, renting property by an ordinary Zambian citizen is almost impossible because foreign nationals have disadvantaged them because of high money offers.
While numerous questions have arisen as to why Zambia’s borders are so porous, there is also the need for citizens to be highly sensitised on the issue of harbouring illegal aliens.
It cannot be denied that a big number of crimes taking place in the country on a day-to-day basis are allegedly being perpetrated by foreigners who are, of course, aided in this vice by some unscrupulous
Zambian citizens.
Government security wings are over-stretched and many times cannot police the country’s vast borders and other illegal entry points.
This is why it is important for the Government to come up with measures aimed at curbing illegal immigrants.
The latest clean-up exercise that was conducted in Lusaka and the Copperbelt which netted close to 1,000 illegal aliens is part of those measures put in place by the Government.
What is also important for the Government is to ensure that the campaign to rid Zambia of illegal immigrants becomes routine, coming after every three to six months.
Operation clean-ups which were common during the UNIP-era, used to pay off because they busted criminal dens in notorious townships such as Chibolya in Lusaka, or Chipulukusu and Nkwazi in Ndola and Twatasha as well as Kamatipa shanty townships in Kitwe.
It will also be important for the authorities to see to it that corrupt immigration officers are severely punished for receiving cash gratifications.
Therefore, the warning by Immigration public relations officer Moses Suwali against alleged corrupt practices by some Immigration officers is timely and should be taken very seriously.
This is a situation where some officers have allegedly hidden aliens in their own houses and warning them each time there was an impending clean-up exercise.
The Government should be tough on this matter as this will help to root out notorious thieves and other undesirable characters that deal mostly in various types of drugs.
Zambian citizens should work closely with the Government and support it to ensure that this country becomes free of lawlessness, much of which is being perpetrated by some foreigners staying in the country
illegally.