Zambia intercepts truck transporting 50 illegal Ethiopian migrants

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Zambia said Monday that 50 illegal Ethiopian migrants had been intercepted on a commercial truck by a combined team of officers from the police, immigration and wildlife departments.

They were aboard a refrigerated truck owned by Africa Supermarkets Limited that was intercepted on Sunday not far from the Luangwa Bridge near Zambia’s border with Mozambique.

“Upon thorough inspection, the truck was found to be harboring 50 prohibited migrants of Ethiopian nationality. Among the detained were Misgana Diga aged 20, Getachew Birham aged 21 and Nuredin Mexebo aged 25, along with 47 other juvenile Ethiopian nationals and two Zambian citizens, namely Blessings Tembo aged 28 (the truck driver) and Benson Mfula aged 32,” said a statement by police spokesman Rae Hamoonga.

He said Tembo, employed by Africa Supermarkets Limited’s Freshmark division, embarked on a trip to Chipata, a city across the Luangwa Bridge, with a cargo of fruits and fresh vegetables on April 19.

“His return journey to (the capital) Lusaka, initially intended with an empty truck, took an illicit turn on April 21. In the vicinity of Chipata, Tembo was solicited by an unidentified individual to transport 50 prohibited migrants to Lusaka. Mfula assumed responsibility for the welfare and communication of the migrants to the intended recipients in Lusaka,” said Hamoonga.

Hamoonga said the swift and decisive action of the law enforcement agencies averted a potentially perilous situation, safeguarding both national security and the well-being of the intercepted individuals.

Immigration Department spokesman Namati Nshinka said the undocumented Ethiopians were aged between 14 and 35 and face charges of illegal entry and unlawful stay, with the two Zambians apprehended facing a charge of aiding and abetting the Ethiopians.

“There were no other items or goods in the truck. All suspects are detained at Luangwa police station pending prosecution. The truck has been impounded and is parked at Luangwa police station. The Luangwa operation brought the number of people apprehended for various immigration offences countrywide between April 18 and April 21 to 142,” said Nshinka.

Due to its central location, Zambia remains a major transit route for illegal migrants, especially from the Horn Africa, as they seek opportunities for greener pastures in southern Africa, particularly the region’s biggest economy, South Africa.

However, neither Nshinka nor Hamoonga said whether the migrants were in transit to another country or intended to remain in Zambia.