Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Immigration Department in Nchelenge District in Luapula Province has detained fifty (52) Congolese nationals for unlawful entry and stay.
And a team of immigration and Registrar of Societies officers yesterday swung into action and apprehended a total of 153 foreign nationals for various Immigration related offences.
The foreign nationals were arrested during a clean-up operation jointly conducted by the Office of the Registrar of Societies and Immigration.
Immigration Department Public Relations Officer Namati Nshika has told qfm news in a statement that the operation targeted the Swedish Pentecostal Church of Zambia located in Kamwala South within Lusaka.
Mr. Nshika explains that the aim of the operation was primarily to check whether or not the Church was duly registered with the Registrar and also check on the Immigration statuses of the congregants.
Mr. Nshika indicates that Preliminary investigations revealed that the Kamwala South Branch is duly registered with the Registrar of Societies and is in compliance with the regulations while other Branches are not registered
He points out that those apprehended include Tanzanian, Congolese and Burundese nationals who were at the Church for a special Easter Celebration Service which drew members from other branches including the Mumbwa and Matero Branches.
Meanwhile Department of Immigration in Nchelenge has detained 52 Congolese nationals for unlawful entry and stay.
Mr. Nshika says the 52 were among 79 persons apprehended on 3rd and 4th April, 2015 during a clean-up operation jointly conducted by Immigration and Zambia Police.
He says the operation covered Mukwekwa, Kalubuli and Tubwebwe Fishing Camps in Nchelenge.
Mr. Nshika explains that of the 79 initially apprehended during the operation, 27 were released unconditionally upon production of documentation proving their legal immigration statuses while 53 are currently detained at Nchelenge Prison pending prosecution.
And the Department has concluded the preliminary screening of the 153 foreign nationals apprehended at the Swedish Pentecostal Church of Zambia in Kamwala South yesterday
The Immigration Department Public Relations Officers has disclosed that so far a total of 23 have been released upon production of documentation proving their legal immigration statuses while 130 persons are detained pending further screening and possible prosecution.