By CHARLES MUSONDA
A CHINESE national has been convicted for unlawful stay in Zambia and engaging in mining trade without a permit.
The offences are contrary to sections 11(3) as read with 56 (1) and 54 as read with 56 (1) of the Immigration and Deportation Act number 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
Lusaka Magistrate Masoja Mbewe yesterday convicted Lyu Zouhui after he pleaded guilty to both counts.
In sentencing Lyu, Ms. Mbewe said offenders committing such offences need to be deterred because Zambia has laws, rules and regulations regarding immigration which must be adhered to.
She said failure to adhere to such laws, rules and regulations will lead to chaos in the nation; and fined Lyu K15, 000 in each count cumulatively, adding that the fines must be paid on or before January 21, 2022 failure to which he will serve six months imprisonment with effect from the date of default. By press time Lyu was still in remand prison as he had not yet paid the fine.
Facts before court were that on January 4, 2022 Zambia Police officers conducted operations within Lusaka and Chongwe area where they found Lyu at Xino Xinyuan Mine in Kasisi area where he had been working.
The officers asked Lyu to show them documents he had for trading in Zambia but he failed after which they apprehended and handed him over to the Immigration Department for further questioning.
Acting on the report, investigations officer Shadreck Mwamba interviewed the now convict in connection with his entry and stay in Zambia as well as conducting business without authority but he failed to produce a work permit.
He however produced a passport bearing number E95931443 after which it was discovered that he entered Zambia on May 16, 2021 as a business visitor for 30 days and his visit expired on June 15, 2021. Since then he has been in Zambia unlawfully.
Under warn and caution statement administered to him, Lyu gave free and voluntary replies admitting both charges. He was then formally charged and arrested for the subject offences as he had no lawful justification to act in the manner he did.
