By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –

FIFTY-TWO Congolese have been arrested by the immigration authorities for illegally entering and staying in Zambia.
The 52 were among 79 people apprehended on April 3 and April 4, 2015 during a clean-up operation jointly conducted by the Immigration Department and the Zambia Police in Nchelenge, Luapula Province.
The operation covered Mukwekwa, Kalubuli and Tubwebwe Fishing Camps.
Immigration public relations officer, Namati Nshinka disclosed in a statement yesterday that the 52 were arrested by the Immigration Department in Nchelenge.
Mr Nshika disclosed that the 52 were detained for unlawful entry and stay.
Out of the 79 initially apprehended during the operation, 27 were released unconditionally upon production of documentation proving their legal immigration statuses.
Mr Nshika said the remaining 52 were currently detained at Nchelenge Prison pending prosecution.
Meanwhile, the department has concluded the preliminary screening of the 153 foreigners apprehended at the Swedish Pentecostal Church of Zambia in Kamwala South.
So far, 23 out of the 153 that were nabbed have been released upon production of documentation proving their legal immigration statuses.
Mr Nshika said 130 are detained pending further screening and possible prosecution.
On Sunday, the Immigration Department during a joint clean-up operation conducted by the office of the Registrar of Societies arrested 153 foreigners for various immigration related offences.
Those apprehended included Tanzanians, Congolese and Burundese who were at the church for a special Easter Celebration Service which drew members from Mumbwa and Matero Branches.
The aim of the operation was to check whether or not the church was duly registered with the registrar and also check on the immigration statuses of the congregants.
However, preliminary investigations revealed that the Kamwala South Branch was duly registered with the Registrar of Societies and was in compliance with the regulations while other branches were not registered.