THE increasing number of prohibited immigrants that are being rounded up week in week out in Zambia is worrisome and should be brought to an immediate end before it gets out of hand. Are our borders too porous for illegal immigrants to go in and out unabated?
What is even more worrying is that the PI’s are only being apprehended long after they have crossed the borders. As if that is not enough, Zambians are the ones that are assisting the immigrants to gain entry into the country.
The story of 12 Ethiopians who were arrested in Nakonde at the weekend is a case in point where again some Zambian drivers were found transporting the foreigners who were en route to South Africa.
The numbers of illegal immigrants is what is unsettling. In September this year, 67 Ethiopians and Somalis were found concealed in a containerised truck at the Kapiri Mposhi weighbridge as they tried to make their way to South Africa.
This was barely a week after 48 other Ethiopians were arrested for the same offence. Obviously the numbers are rising because several underprivileged people on the African continent are trying to get into South Africa for employment.
But why should Zambians auction the sovereignty of their own country for any amount of money? It is very clear that Zambia is being used as a transit point for human trafficking, which is a criminal offence according to the United Nations Charter.
What people should be mindful of is that there is currently an outbreak of Ebola in some parts of Africa and some of the foreigners being assisted to cross into Zambia without going through the border screening facilities could just spread the disease.
The Government has put in place Ebola screening facilities at entry points but it goes without saying that foreigners that are aided by unscrupulous locals to cross into Zambia are never screened, which defeats the whole purpose of preparing for a possible outbreak of the deadly disease.
It is undoubted that the Zambia Revenue Authority faces a challenge of smuggling on account of the porous borders due to limited enforcement presence and the ever-increasing volumes of trade. While that could be the case, officers manning our borders must put personal financial interests aside and consider the better welfare of the country.
We would like to also urge transporters working in border areas to be wary of what they carry. The Nakonde case actually smacks lots of suspicion going by the fact that six Ethiopians were crammed in such a small vehicle as a Furncargo.
The case of the High Court in Mongu which convicted William Mufungulwa Sipalo, a Zambian taxi driver to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for smuggling persons, should serve as a lesson to other players in the transport sector.
Sipalo smuggled four Congolese adults and five children into Namibia but was intercepted at Katima Mulilo border when he and his contraband attempted to cross into Namibia without having proper documentation to enter that country.
It is the same with some local transporters who are being used by foreigners to ferry illegally-harvested Mukula logs. This is when all citizens must show their patriotism by rising above the monetary coercion to protect Zambia.
Every Zambian must play that role to ensure the country is not turned into a safe haven for illegal immigrants. Not even as the best transit home. We have noticed that lately, some foreigners are coming into Zambia on the pretext of being church missionaries.
While, there is nothing wrong with praying with our brothers and sisters from across the borders, we just have to make sure that they are in Zambia legally. For all we know, some of them might have fled their native countries after committing criminal offences.
We, therefore, call upon our people to acquaint themselves with the law that says harbouring foreigners who have no proper documentation is as bad a crime as the one who has gained entry into Zambia illegally.