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PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20th September, 2025
TANZANIAN DUO FINED K80,000 EACH FOR AIDING AND ABETTING
On 5th September, 2025, the Serenje Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced two Tanzanian nationals, Mrisho Shaban (26) and Willson Thomas (20), for aiding and abetting the illegal entry of nine (9) Ethiopian nationals into Zambia. The duo was each sentenced to pay a fine of K80,000 or, in default, four (4) months simple imprisonment. In addition, the State has applied for the forfeiture of the truck used in the commission of the offence. The vehicle, a Lusaka-bound Scania truck laden with window panes and bearing registration numbers T613 EJR (horse) and T390 (trailer), was used to conceal the Ethiopian nationals.
The Ethiopians, three females and six males aged between 18 and 27, were apprehended on 29th August, 2025 following a handover by Police, who had intercepted the group on 28th August, 2025 at Pensulo Checkpoint in Serenje District. They were discovered hidden between carefully packed window-pane glass sheets aboard the truck. They have since been charged with failure to appear before the nearest immigration officer upon entry and are scheduled to appear in court soon.
Further, the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office on 8th September, 2025 secured the conviction of a Burundian and a Tanzanian. Eric Nyandwi, a 25-year-old Burundian was sentenced to pay a fine of K60,000 or nine months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay while Kishoki Mikaeli, a 35-year-old Tanzanian of Lusakaβs John Laing was fined K40,000 or to serve seven months simple imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful stay.
The Serenje and Lusaka judgements brought the number of convictions secured between 4th and 8th September, 2025 to 77.
Furthermore, the Department apprehended a total of 63 suspected illegal immigrants in three separate operations conducted in Lusaka, Kafue and Lundazi Districts between 5th and 6th September, 2025.
On 5th September, 2025, the Lundazi Immigration Office apprehended 16 Malawian nationals in Lumezi Districtβs Chitungulu area for illegal entry. The suspects, aged between 18 and 45 years, are currently in detention pending court proceedings.
On the same day, the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office apprehended 26 suspected prohibited immigrants, all of whom were undocumented at the time of their arrest. The group comprised 22 Burundian nationals, two (02) Congolese nationals, and two (02) Rwandan nationals. They have since been charged and are awaiting prosecution.
Meanwhile, on 6th September, 2025, the Kafue Immigration Office apprehended 21 suspected illegal immigrants aged between 18 and 32 years during a routine operation in Lilayi and Makeni areas. Those apprehended include 14 Burundians, four (04) Congolese nationals, one (01) Rwandan, one (01) Tanzanian, and one (01) suspected Congolese claiming Zambian citizenship.
These three operations brought the total number of apprehensions recorded countrywide between 4th and 8th September, 2025, to 156.
During the same period, the Department removed 71 illegal immigrants from the country and refused entry to 7 foreign nationals who failed to meet entry requirements.
The Department of Immigration reiterates its commitment to safeguarding Zambiaβs borders by ensuring strict adherence to the provisions of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010.
Namati H. Nshinka (Mr)
CHIEF PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
255282/0977718155/[email protected]
