24/09/2026
IMMIGRATION SECURES CONVICTION FOR FALSE IDENTITY, APPREHENDS 64 IN NDOLA, LUSAKA AND KAFUE OPERATIONS
The Department of Immigration on Friday, 18th September 2026 secured the conviction of Kudakwashe Denise Mutsetse (30), a Zimbabwean national, for giving false information to an Immigration Officer and concealing his true national identity. The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court fined Mutsetse a combined K60,000 for the two offences or, in default, 12 months simple imprisonment. He has since paid the fine and will be deported from Zambia. He was apprehended on 27th August 2026 in Lusaka’s Panganani Township following investigations into his nationality. During a search of his residence, Mutsetse produced a Zambian National Registration Card (NRC) and Birth Certificate as proof of his claimed Zambian nationality. However, verification through the Zambia Immigration Management System (ZIMS) established that he was a Zimbabwean national who had previously entered Zambia in 2019 using a Zimbabwean passport and subsequently obtained a Temporary Permit using the same passport.
Meanwhile, the Ndola Regional Immigration Office on 19th September 2026 apprehended twenty-five (25) foreign nationals during an operation conducted in Lubuto, Kabushi, Mushili, Industrial Area and Urungu. In Lubuto and Kabushi, Officers apprehended eleven (11) undocumented Tanzanian nationals, while five (5) Congolese nationals were apprehended in Mushili. In the Industrial Area, one (1) Eritrean refugee was apprehended for allegedly working without a permit and being in possession of an expired document. The operation in Urungu resulted in the apprehension of seven (7) Somali refugees with expired gate passes and one (1) British national of Somali origin with an expired passport. Following preliminary screening, nineteen (19) persons were detained, comprising eleven (11) Tanzanians, one (1) Eritrean and seven (7) Somali refugees. One (1) Congolese national and one (1) Somali refugee were released unconditionally after producing valid documentation. Another Congolese national, who was found in possession of two documents and accompanied by three undocumented minors, was released pending removal from Zambia.
In Lusaka, the Regional Immigration Office apprehended twenty-three (23) foreign nationals during clean-up operations conducted on Friday, 18th September and Sunday, 20th September 2026. During Friday’s operation, Officers apprehended fifteen (15) foreign nationals in Kalingalinga, Mutendere and Nyumba Yanga residential areas and at Atletico Lusaka Sports Complex. They comprised ten (10) Burundians, three (3) Congolese and two (2) Zimbabweans. The ten (10) Burundians and three (3) Congolese were apprehended for being undocumented and detained pending screening and further immigration formalities. The two Zimbabwean nationals, aged 23 and 28, both students at Cavendish University, were apprehended at Atletico Lusaka Sports Complex on suspicion of engaging in unauthorised immigration consultancy activities. The two are alleged to have been processing Study Permits for fellow students at the University. Investigations into the matter are ongoing. On Sunday, 20th September 2026, Officers apprehended a further eight (😎 undocumented Burundian nationals in Kanyama. They were detained pending screening and further immigration formalities.
In a related development, the Department of Immigration in Kafue apprehended sixteen (16) foreign nationals aged between 16 and 44 during a routine sting operation conducted on Sunday, 20th September 2026 in Kafue Town, Chalala and Lilayi areas. Those apprehended comprised eleven (11) Burundians, three (3) Congolese, one (1) Egyptian and one (1) Malawian. At the time of apprehension, fifteen (15) were not in possession of passports, travel documents or immigration permits, while the Egyptian national was found with an expired Temporary Permit. The sixteen are currently detained at Kafue Police Station pending screening to establish their individual immigration status and the specific offences, if any, committed. Preliminary investigations are focusing on suspected offences including illegal entry, failure to appear before an Immigration Officer upon entry, unlawful presence in Zambia and, in some cases involving Burundian and Congolese nationals, residing outside a designated refugee settlement without the requisite authority.
The Department wishes to remind foreign nationals to ensure that their immigration status and documentation remain valid at all times. Members of the public are equally urged to desist from facilitating violations of immigration laws, while persons seeking immigration services are encouraged to use authorised channels and deal directly with the Department or other duly authorised persons such as registered immigration consultants.
Namati H. Nshinka (Mr)
CHIEF PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
