By MILDRED KATONGO  –

THE Immigration Department has resounded a warning to locals against aiding foreigners to acquire National Registration Cards (NRCs) amid increasing arrests of the law-breakers.
Several warnings by authorities against locals assisting foreigners to acquire NRCs have gone unheard, as the Immigration expresses concern over the happenings in the wake of  the ongoing nation-wide issuance of NRCs.  .
The Immigration department public relations officer Mubanda Chileshe said 15 foreigners were arrested for various offences, including attempting to acquire the national identity.
Ms Chileshe said cases of foreigners not qualified to acquire the NRCs were on the increase, but that the department would continue being alert to stop the illegal act.
Ms Chileshe said in a statement that all those who were not eligible, but were found in possession or trying to obtain the NRC’s risked being arrested.
“The Department would like to warn the general public to desist from obtaining or aiding persons that are not entitled to obtain the Green National Registration Card, as the perpetrators will be brought to book,” she said.
She said among the foreigners arrested, were a Somali national who had forged his birth certificate in an effort to obtain an NRC.
She said during an operation last week, a Tanzanian, was also arrested for attempting to obtain the same document.
Out of the 15 foreigners nabbed, eight were Congolese, a Somali, a Tanzanian, two Burundese and two Rwandese.