DRIVER DETAINED AFTER SEVEN ETHIOPIANS FOUND IN VEHICLE
…..as court fines another K120,000 for aiding illegal immigrants
Lusaka… Tuesday July 7, 2026 (SMART EAGLES)
The Department of Immigration has warned members of the public against facilitating illegal immigration after a Zambian driver was apprehended for allegedly aiding the illegal entry of seven Ethiopian nationals into the country, while another man was fined K120,000 by the Nakonde Magistrate Court for a similar offence.
In a statement obtained by Smart Eagles, Department of Immigration Chief Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka said immigration officers in Kapiri Mposhi apprehended 34-year-old Simukanzye Fred Mpumpu of Mbala District on Saturday, July 4, 2026, for allegedly aiding and abetting the illegal entry of seven Ethiopian nationals.
Mr Nshinka said the arrest followed a report from Zambia Revenue Authority officers at the Enforcement Centre along the Kapiri Mposhi–Nakonde Road concerning an unregistered in-transit Nissan NV150 AD motor vehicle suspected of carrying prohibited immigrants.
“Acting on the information, Immigration officers rushed to the scene and intercepted the vehicle which was being driven by Mpumpu. Following a quick search, officers found the seven Ethiopian nationals on board,” Mr Nshinka said.
He said the foreign nationals, aged between 19 and 27, were found with Ethiopian passports that did not bear Zambian entry endorsement stamps, indicating that they had not followed the required immigration procedures upon entering the country.
Mr Nshinka said preliminary investigations had revealed that the Ethiopians were suspected to have entered Zambia unlawfully through Nakonde Border Control at an unknown date while allegedly heading to South Africa.
“The seven Ethiopian nationals and the driver are currently detained at Kapiri Mposhi Police Post pending further investigations and possible prosecution. The motor vehicle has since been impounded to facilitate ongoing investigations,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Nshinka said the Nakonde Magistrate Court had convicted Saul Siwale, 26, of Muchika Village in Nakonde District, for aiding and abetting the illegal stay of four Ethiopian nationals.
He stated that the court sentenced Siwale to pay a fine of K120,000 or serve nine months simple imprisonment in default.
Siwale was arrested on March 4, 2026, after investigations linked him to four Ethiopian nationals who had earlier been apprehended by immigration officers at Grace Lodge in Katozi Village, Nakonde District.
According to Mr Nshinka, investigations established that Siwale had facilitated the unlawful stay of the four nationals by transporting them and paying for their accommodation at the lodge.
The Department of Immigration has since urged members of the public to desist from aiding illegal immigration, warning that such actions are offences under the Immigration and Deportation Act, Chapter 123 of the Laws of Zambia.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to combating illegal immigration and urge the public to report suspected immigration offences to the nearest Immigration Office,” Mr Nshinka said.