By Beatrice Chabaya
The Lusaka Magistrate Court yesterday, 30th September, 2024 convicted and sentenced four
Zambians Samson Masuka (34) of Lusaka’s Balastone, Geoffrey Chumbwe (32) of Silverest,
Chinyama Masumba (31) of Kaunda Square, and Rainson Sinkala (25) also of Kaunda Square, to
a fine of K 960,000 each or two years imprisonment with hard labour for aiding, abetting and
harbouring 16 Ethiopian illegal immigrants.
Immigrations public relations officer Namati Nshinka said the four were each charged with 15 counts of aiding
and abetting and one count of harbouring an illegal immigrant.
He said they were apprehended by the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office on 22nd November, 2023
during an operation which began as a routine patrol around Roma and Ngwerere Areas.
The operation quickly escalated when Immigration Officers received information that a white
Fortuner Registration number BBD 671 carrying suspected illegal immigrants had been spotted
near Water Falls Mall in Lusaka’s Silverest Area.
Following this lead, the Officers rushed to the
scene and eventually located the vehicle, which was empty at the time, most likely after the driver
had dropped off the passengers at an unknown location.
The Officers started trailing the vehicle
until the Driver, Geoffrey Chumbwe, parked the vehicle which appeared to have been modified
by removing the back seats to maximize carrying capacity.
Mr Nshinka explained that the driver initially expressed ignorance about the Ethiopians and instead led the officers to Kaunda Square, where Chinyama Masumba and Rainson Sinkala, whom he alleged
had transported the Ethiopians from Kasama, resided.
The Officers picked the two suspects,
and further investigations led them to the driver’s Residence in Silverest where the
Officers found 16 undocumented suspected Ethiopians in a Gazebo.
Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration between 27th and 28th September, 2024 apprehended
204 suspected illegal immigrants in ongoing country-wide clean-up operations.
During this
period, the Department removed 65 illegal immigrants of different nationalities from the country
and secured 13 convictions.
The Department is concerned about the increased incidents of Zambians aiding, abetting and
harbouring illegal immigrants.
The conviction and sentencing of the four Zambians to a record fine of K 960,000 for these offences should serve as a timely warning to anyone engaging or
contemplating to engage in the acts of aiding, abetting or harbouring illegal immigrants, that the
consequences are very severe.