By CHATULA KAMPO –
THE Immigration Department in Nakonde District in Muchinga Province has arrested 31 Ethiopians for entering Zambia illegally.
The immigrants, aged between 25 and 40 years, were arrested yesterday by a combined team of immigration and police officers at Peulu area along the Great North Road.
Immigration department public relations officer Namati Nshinka confirmed the arrest of the Ethiopians in a statement released yesterday.
Mr Nshinka said the illegal immigrants were arrested after the truck they were hiding in developed a fault along the Great North Road around 22:00 hours on Sunday.
He said the truck had since been impounded and that the driver of the truck, Patrick Lusekelo, 35, and his helper Joseph Korinery, 33, escaped and were still on the run.
Mr Nshinka said the suspects were hiding in a trailer, registration number T532 CBG of truck belonging to Bhandho Cross Border, a Tanzanian transporter.
He said the truck was en-route to Lusaka to deliver a concrete mixing and kneading machine imported by AVIC Internationals Project.
“The truck had developed a mechanical fault at the time of the arrests. It was en-route to Lusaka to deliver a concrete mixing and kneading machine imported by AVIC Internationals Project Company situated at plot 54 Millennium Village. It was cleared through Mwaka Freight and Forwarding Cargo Services at Nakonde border,” he said.
The suspects are currently being held in Nakonde pending further investigations.
In a related development, immigration officers in Chinsali have arrested a South African and Mozambican for unlawful entry and stay in Zambia.
In Kitwe, three Indians and two Congolese were arrested last week on Friday for unlawful stay in the country.
The Immigration Department in Ndola removed six Tanzanians from the country through Nakonde border control while another one was removed by the Luanshya immigration office.