The Lusaka Regional Immigration Office has apprehended 30 Burundian and two Congolese nationals suspected of being illegal immigrants during a routine clean-up operation conducted on February 3, 2025.

According to Immigration Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka, the operation targeted Kabwata, Libala, Chilenje, and Chalala areas in Lusaka, where the suspects were arrested at various grocery and liquor stores for allegedly conducting business without immigration permits. They are currently detained pending screening.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation on the same day, Lundazi Immigration Officers arrested 11 Malawian men aged between 23 and 45 in Lumezi District. The crackdown aimed to curb the influx of undocumented foreign farm laborers.

Nshinka revealed that these operations bring the total number of suspected illegal immigrants arrested in Zambia within the same period to 62, comprising:

38 Burundians, 11 Congolese, 4 Nigerians, 3 Malawians, 3 Peruvians, 1 Eritrean, 1 Somalian and 1 Zimbabwean

The Zambian Immigration Department has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing immigration laws and tackling illegal entry into the country.