By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

TWENTY-SIX Ethiopians have been sentenced to 12 months in prison with hard labour by a Nakonde magistrate’s court for failing to adhere to immigration procedures.
The 26 have also been fined K4,500 each or in default nine months imprisonment.
Immigration Department public relations officer Namati Nshinka said the 26 were convicted and sentenced in a Nakonde magistrate’s court on Thursday last week.
Mr Nshinka said the 26 were convicted for failing to appear before an Immigration officer on entry into Zambia.
“The Prohibited Immigrants were apprehended by Immigration officers on September 28, 2014 at an area about 60 kilometres to Isoka. They were travelling in two vehicles, a Noah and an Elgrand both Zambian registered,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Kitwe magistrate’s court on Wednesday last week convicted and fined a Tanzanian K4,000 for engaging in employment without a work permit.
He was arrested after being found working at KASCCO Limited in Kitwe without an employment permit.
The company would soon be appearing in court for allowing him work without a permit.
In a related development, the Immigration Department in Lusaka on Thursday last week removed 24 Ethiopians from the country.
The 24, who had been detained in Lusaka for various immigration offences were removed via Kenneth Kaunda International Airport with the financial assistance of the International Organisation for Migration.
In Solwezi on Wednesday last week, the Immigration Department arrested two Somali students for failing to observe the conditions of their study permits. The duo was arrested after being found working as truck drivers.
Immigration officers also arrested three Rwandese for being in possession of fake Tanzanian travel documents in Isoka on Thursday last week.