By JAMES KUNDA –

FIFTEEN suspected illegal immigrants have been detained by the Immigration Department for failure to produce documentation proving that their entry and stay in Zambia is legal.
Meanwhile, warn and caution statements will be recorded from the 130 foreigners apprehended at the Swedish Pentecostal Church of Zambia and the 53 others arrested in Nchelenge last week.
Immigration Department public relations officer Namati Nshinka said the 15, among them 13 Somalis and two Indians were apprehended on Monday in Makeni, Emmasdale and Mumbwa road in Lusaka.
“All the 15 failed to produce documentation to prove their legal immigration status at the time of the arrests. Investigations in this matter are ongoing,” he said.
Mr Nshinka said two Burundese were separately arrested in Chirundu for unlawful entry last week while, 28 illegal immigrants were removed from the country for various immigration offences.
“These include 14 Congolese removed by Immigration in Kasumbalesa, 15 Malawians removed by Chipata regional immigration office, 5 Ethiopians, 2 Tanzanians and an Egyptian national removed by Kabwe Regional Immigration Office,” he said
Four Ethiopians were removed by the Lusaka regional immigration office while in Mansa and Ndola, a Ugandan and a Congolese were ejected for the same offence.
Meanwhile, the Lusaka Magistrate Court has sentenced two Tanzanians to a fine of K 1,000 each or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay.
The same Court also sentenced another Tanzanian to a fine of K 2,000 or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for a similar offence.
In Ndola, the Magistrate Court sentenced a Congolese to a fine of K1,500 or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay.
The Magistrate Court in Kitwe sentenced a Ugandan to a fine of K500 or in default 6 months simple imprisonment for a similar offence.
In Chingola, the Magistrate Court sentenced a Somalian to a fine of K1,500 or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay.
The Chililabombwe Magistrate Court sentenced two Egyptians to fine of K1,500 each or in default 5 months simple imprisonment for unlawful entry.