Zambian Justice Delivers: Two Jailed in Separate Immigration Cases
The Zambian Department of Immigration has announced recent convictions, including a Zambian man jailed for aiding a Congolese national in fraudulently obtaining identity documents and an American national sentenced for possessing forged immigration stamps and overstaying. These cases underscore the department's commitment to enforcing immigration laws and preventing identity fraud.
The Department of Immigration in Zambia has recently secured convictions in two significant cases, highlighting the country's stringent measures against immigration offences and identity fraud.
The Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka, confirmed these developments in a statement issued from Lusaka.
In one case, the Livingstone Magistrate Court, on June 26, 2026, convicted 44-year-old Moses Ndamba Nzengo, a Zambian national, for aiding and abetting a prohibited immigrant.
Nzengo was apprehended on February 23, 2026, after officers at the Passport Office in Livingstone became suspicious of a Congolese national attempting to acquire a Zambian National Registration Card using the alias Brighton Kunda.
Investigations established that the Congolese national had travelled from Lusaka to Livingstone in the company of Moses Nzengo, who had knowingly facilitated the journey for the purpose of enabling him to fraudulently obtain Zambian identity documents.
It was further revealed that the convict had received the prohibited immigrant in Lusaka before accompanying him to Livingstone, where both spent the night before proceeding to the Passport Office the following morning.
For his role, Moses Ndamba Nzengo was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour, effective from February 26, 2026.
In a separate matter, on 29 June 2026, the Nakonde Magistrate Court convicted Mohamed Hassan Mohamed, 58, an American national of Somali origin, on five counts under the Immigration and Deportation Act.
He was apprehended on 15 June 2026 by an Immigration Officer manning the exit counters at Nakonde Border Control while attempting to leave Zambia.
During routine exit formalities, officers discovered irregularities in his travel documents, leading to further investigation.
It was established that Mohamed possessed four forged Immigration endorsement stamps, falsely indicating entries and exits through Nakonde Border Control between September 2021 and January 2022.
Furthermore, he was found to have remained in Zambia unlawfully after the expiry of his authorized period without seeking an extension of stay.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour on each of the four counts related to the forged stamps, with the sentences running concurrently.
For remaining in Zambia after the expiry of his permit, he received a fine of K3,000 or, in default, four months simple imprisonment.
The Department of Immigration utilized these cases to issue a stern warning to the public.
Namati Nshinka cautioned against aiding or abetting prohibited immigrants and participating in schemes designed to fraudulently obtain Zambian identity or immigration documents, emphasizing that such offences attract severe penalties.
Foreign nationals were also reminded to adhere strictly to the conditions of their stay and to refrain from possessing or using forged immigration documents or endorsements.