A court in Zambia has convicted 18 Ethiopians and fined K4,500 each or in default nine months simple imprisonment for unlawful entry into the country.
The Nakonde magistrate’s court has also discharged 13 other Ethiopian juveniles who were charged with the same offence on account of their age.
This is according to a statement released in Lusaka by Immigration Department public relations officer, Namati Nshinka.
The 31 Ethiopians were arrested on February 17, 2014 by a combined team of Immigration and Zambia Police Service officers at a place called Peulu along the Great North Road.
They were found hidden in a concrete mixing and kneading machine carried by a truck, registration number T806 ARF, belonging to Dandho Cross Border, a Tanzanian transporter.
Mr Nshinka said the 13 juveniles were deported on Friday last week, while the Dandho truck and trailer, which was impounded, has since been released to the owner.
In another development, the magistrate’s court in Solwezi has convicted and fined Charles Odum ,52, a Ghanaian, K2,000 or in default six months imprisonment with hard labour.
The magistrate’s court in Kitwe also convicted and fined a Tanzanian national K6, 000 or in default 12 months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay in Zambia.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Department in Nchelenge in Luapula Province on Monday arrested two Congolese nationals for unlawful entry and stay in the country.