IMMIGRATION APPREHENDS TEN ETHIOPIANS IN KAZUNGULA AS 212 CONGOLESE REFUGEES ARE VOLUNTARILY REPATRIATED
10th August, 2026
The Department of Immigration in Kazungula has apprehended ten (10) Ethiopian nationals in an intelligence-led operation conducted in the Highlands area of Kazungula District.
The operation, involving four (4) Immigration Officers and three (3) armed Police Officers, commenced in the late hours of Saturday, 8th August 2026 and initially resulted in the apprehension of three (3) Ethiopian males.
During the operation, three (3) Zambian males suspected of facilitating the movement of the Ethiopians towards the Zambezi River, together with an unknown number of Ethiopian nationals, managed to evade the officers.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the group was allegedly being transported to the Zambezi River for onward movement across the border
A follow-up operation conducted in the early hours of Sunday, 9th August 2026 resulted in the apprehension of a further seven (7) Ethiopian males, bringing the total number in custody to ten (10).
Of the ten (10) Ethiopians apprehended, seven (7) were found in possession of valid Ethiopian passports, one (1) had an Ethiopian identification card, while two (2) were undocumented.
The Department has instituted investigations to establish their immigration status, circumstances surrounding their presence in the area and the persons involved in facilitating their movement.
The Department is also pursuing the suspected facilitators who escaped during the operation and reiterates its warning to members of the public against aiding, harbouring or facilitating persons in contravention of immigration laws.
Meanwhile, the Chipungu Immigration Office on Friday, 7th August 2026 facilitated the voluntary repatriation of two hundred and twelve (212) Congolese refugees from Mantapala Refugee Settlement.
The repatriation was undertaken as part of the ongoing voluntary repatriation exercise coordinated by the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees.
Immigration Officers facilitated the necessary immigration formalities to ensure the orderly departure of the refugees from Zambia.
Namati H. Nshinka (Mr)
CHIEF PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
255282/0977718155/pro@zambiaimmigration.gov.zm