MAYENGO NYIRENDA
Chipata
POLICE in Nyimba have impounded an ambulance belonging to Altaf Memorial Hospital in Chipata for transporting 30 suspected illegal immigrants.
The ambulance belonging to the private hospital was carrying 30 suspected illegal immigrants who were being transported from Katete to Lusaka.
Eastern Province police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba said the driver of the ambulance, Boyd Phiri, 40, and his co-driver, Siyamukenge Chikema, both Zambians, were apprehended together with suspected Ethiopians.
Mr Mweemba said the incident happened on Saturday at around 23.00 hours at Kacholola security checkpoint on the Great East Road.
“Brief facts of the matter are that some security concerns information was received through members of the public to the effect that Altaf ambulance motor vehicle registration number BAT 3037 belonging to Altaf private hospital in Chipata District, driven by Boyd Phiri and his co-driver, were seen picking up the same Ethiopian nationals along Chanida-Katete-Mozambique road.
“Upon interviews, the two Zambian drivers disclosed that Kennedy Phiri, of Katete, initially communicated to them earlier that there was a patient to be picked at Katete and needed an ambulance, but upon arrival they were handed over the total of 30 Ethiopians,” Mr Mweemba.
Mr Mweemba said the driver and the co-driver are both residents of Chipata. They are in police custody together with the 30 Ethiopians, and the motor vehicle used was impounded.
Recently, Immigration officers in Chipata apprehended seven Bangladeshi and two Pakistani nationals for unlawful entry into Zambia.
The nine were found locked in a room in Moth Township in Chipata after crossing into Zambia via Mwami/Mchinji One Stop Border Post.
According to the International Organisation for Migrants (IOM), Zambia is a transit and destination point for trafficking persons and a destination country for refugees and asylum seekers.
Chipata District is cited to be a source, transit and destination district for migrants in mixed flows, including victims of human trafficking, labour migrants and asylum seekers.
