Zambia’s Department of Immigration has detained 53 people for suspected immigration offences following joint enforcement operations in Kitwe and Chililabombwe districts on the Copperbelt between October 16 and 18.
The department rounded up 130 individuals during the operations, of whom 55 were released after verification of their immigration status, 18 were placed on report orders for further immigration formalities and four were removed from the country.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Department of Immigration Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka, said the operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies.
In Kitwe, 77 individuals were rounded up, comprising 26 Congolese nationals, 22 people claiming to be Zambian nationals, 16 Tanzanians, four Ugandans and one Burundian refugee. Eight Zambian nationals were also apprehended for allegedly obstructing immigration officers.
“The Department of Immigration, working in collaboration with other security wings, rounded up one hundred and thirty (130) individuals during joint clean-up operations conducted in Kitwe and Chililabombwe Districts of the Copperbelt Province between 16th and 18th October, 2026,” Nshinka said.
He said screening in Kitwe resulted in 10 individuals being detained, 14 being placed on report orders and 53 being released after producing valid documents confirming their lawful status.
“Following screening, ten (10) individuals were detained for suspected immigration offences, including being found outside a designated refugee settlement without a valid gate pass, engaging in business without the requisite permit and being undocumented,” Nshinka said.
In Chililabombwe, 53 individuals were rounded up during an operation that began on October 17. Of these, 43 were detained, comprising 30 Congolese nationals, six people claiming Zambian citizenship, four Tanzanians, one Burundian, one Rwandan and one Somali refugee.
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Nshinka said the suspected offences included illegal entry into Zambia, unlawful stay, being outside a designated refugee settlement without a valid gate pass and being undocumented.
He said four individuals were placed on report orders for further immigration formalities, while one Congolese national and three juveniles accompanying them were removed through the Kasumbalesa border control. Two other individuals were released.
“The Department remains committed to conducting regular and intelligence-led enforcement operations, in collaboration with other security wings, to ensure compliance with Zambia’s immigration laws,” Nshinka said.
He urged foreign nationals residing in or visiting Zambia to ensure they held valid immigration documents and complied with the conditions governing their entry and stay.
Employers and business operators were also reminded to ensure that foreign nationals engaged in employment or business activities possessed the required immigration permits.
Nshinka urged members of the public to cooperate with immigration officers and other law enforcement agencies by reporting suspected immigration violations.
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