Zambia’s Department of Immigration has apprehended 58 suspected prohibited immigrants, including Burundians, Congolese and Rwandan nationals, during a clean-up operation conducted in several parts of Lusaka on Monday, March 9, 2026.
According to a statement issued by Chief Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka, the operation was carried out by the Lusaka Regional Immigration Office and targeted areas including Kamwala, Mtendere, PHI, Kabulonga, Woodlands, Chelstone, Chalala and Chainda.
“The apprehended persons comprise 47 Burundians, six Congolese and 5 Rwandans, and are currently detained at Kamulanga Police Post awaiting further formalities.
Mr. Nshinka said the Lusaka operation brings the total number of apprehensions recorded nationwide between March 6 and March 9, 2026 to 115 suspected illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, the Mpika Magistrate’s Court has convicted five Congolese nationals for failing to appear before an immigration officer upon entering Zambia.
Mr. Nshinka explained that the five were apprehended on February 23, 2026 during routine operations at the Mpika Police Check Point after being intercepted aboard a passenger bus travelling from Nakonde.
“On Friday, 6th March, 2026, the Mpika Magistrate’s Court convicted the five and fined them K15,000 each, in default nine months simple imprisonment. The Mpika convictions brought the number of immigration-related convictions recorded on the same day to eighteen 18,” he said.
In a related development, the Ndola Regional Immigration Office on Saturday, March 7, 2026 deported a Ghanaian national identified as Isaac Kwesi Sam 30.
Mr. Nshinka said the individual was removed from Zambia aboard Ethiopian Airlines after being handed over to immigration authorities by the Drug Enforcement Commission Zambia (DEC).
“The individual had earlier been apprehended on 13th February, 2026 for being in possession of cannabis and was subsequently convicted before the courts on 25th February, 2026,” Mr. Nshinka stated. “The deportation brings the number of removals recorded between March 6 and March 9, 2026 to five.”
Meanwhile, immigration authorities have also relocated 32 refugees to the Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement after they were apprehended for residing outside the settlement without authorization during a clean-up operation conducted in Lusaka on February 15, 2026.
Additionally, between March 6 and March 9, the department removed 56 illegal immigrants from the country and refused entry to four individuals who failed to meet Zambia’s immigration entry requirements.
Mr. Nshinka stated that the department will continue conducting enforcement operations to ensure compliance with the country’s immigration laws.
“The Department of Immigration will continue conducting enforcement operations to ensure compliance with Zambia’s immigration laws,” he added.
