By JAMES KUNDA –

FIVE Congolese in Ndola have been arrested for unlawful stay in Zambia, the Immigration Department has said.
Immigration Department public relations officer Namati Nshinka said in a statement yesterday that the five were arrested on Tuesday along with four other people suspected to be Congolese, a Ugandan and a Tanzanian, for the same offence.
“In Kitwe, the Immigration arrested a Tanzanian for a similar offence, while in Solwezi and Lukulu, a Zimbabwean and an Angolan were arrested for the same offence, respectively,” he said.
He said in Luangwa, a Chinese visitor was apprehended for trading without a permit, while in Kapiri Mposhi, two Tanzanians have been apprehended for altering Immigration stamps.
In Isoka, four Congolese were apprehended for unlawful entry, while Immigration in Kariba, arrested a Rwandese national for a similar offence.
“In Kapiri, we arrested two Tanzanians and a Congolese for unlawful entry, while in Nakonde; three Tanzanians were denied entry for using duplicated Travel Documents of Identity.
“A Malawian was also denied entry for using an invalid travel document, while a Chinese suffered the same fate for not having a visa for Zambia,” he said.
Mr Nshinka said in Lusaka, the Immigration Department on Friday apprehended 17 people suspected to be prohibited immigrants for various immigration offences.
The foreign nationals were arrested during a mini-sting clean-up operation conducted along Chachacha Road and Freedom Way in Lusaka.
Among the 17 arrested were six Tanzanian hair plaiters who were arrested in some hair saloons for working without permits.
“Further, three Indians, two Eritreans, an Ethiopian, a Chinese and a Lebanese, were arrested after they failed to produce documentation to assist officers ascertain their immigration status in Zambia,” he said.
Furthermore, one Palestinian was arrested for failing to comply with conditions of his employment permit after he was found working at a firm named H Investment when his permit is only valid for Big Bob Company.
“In the same operation, a South Korean was arrested for engaging in employment without a permit,” Mr Nshinka added.