By JAMES KUNDA –

THE Immigration Department has arrested 17 Tanzanians for trading in second hand clothes without permits.
The 17 were arrested at the Kapijimpanga Check point in Solwezi as they were travelling from Tanzania aboard a bus belonging to Jitotwe Bus Service.
Two other Tanzanians, who were on the bus travelling to Solwezi on a social visit, were in the process also apprehended after they failed to produce relevant documentation.
A female Congolese refugee was also arrested at the same check point for being outside a refugee settlement without authority.
This is according to a statement released by Immigration Department public relations officer Namati Nshinka yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Lusaka regional immigration on Tuesday apprehended 26 suspected prohibited immigrants.
This was during an operation conducted in various parts of Lusaka including Madras, UTH, Kabwata and Chilenje areas.
“All those apprehended did not have any documentation at the time of their arrests. They included nine Indians, 10 Burundese, 3 Rwandese, 3 Congolese and 1 Zimbabwean,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kitwe Magistrate Court has convicted 2 Congolese for unlawful entry and stay.
Martha Bangamba 35 was fined K2,000 for each count for entering and staying in the country without documentation to back her immigration status in Zambia.
Francois Kasaka 24 was fined K2,500 for each count.
The same Court also convicted and sentenced David Kanyiki 43, a Congolese to a fine of K3,000 or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay.
“Donald Kanema 47 was sentenced to a fine of K 200 or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for failing to appear before an immigration officer when making entry into the country,” Mr Nshinka added.
The same court also convicted and sentenced Fu Xiaoyin 48, a Chinese to a fine of K 10,000 or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay.
Fu Xiaoyin entered the country as an ordinary visitor on August 9, 2014 but did not apply for a permit after his days expired on November 7, 2014.
The Court also convicted and sentenced Abdelsalam Saad Elsherif 25, an Egyptian l to a fine of K 8,000 or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for trading without a permit.
He entered the country as an ordinary visitor on November 27, 2014 but was arrested in Bulangililo Township after being found trading in carpets and pots.
Meanwhile, the Senanga Magistrate Court on Monday convicted and sentenced a Ugandan to a fine of K 5,000 or in default 9 months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay.
“The Livingstone Magistrate Court in Livingstone also convicted and sentenced a Tanzanian to a fine of 3 months imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful stay,” Mr Nshinka added.