ZAMBIA'S MUFUMBWE GOLD RUSH: TANZANIAN MINERS FACE IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN

By Ollus Ndomu

A week after police opened fire on illegal miners in Mufumbwe, killing at least three, the Immigration Department has stepped in, removing 43 Tanzanian nationals found engaging in unauthorized gold mining operations.

The operation, led by the Solwezi Regional Immigration Office, is part of a wider clampdown on undocumented foreign nationals involved in illegal mining activities across Zambia’s North-Western Province.

Sources indicate the Tanzanian group had entered the country on improper permits and was actively mining in defiance of immigration and mining laws. Officials say the removal signals a coordinated push to restore order and curb foreign involvement in the chaotic gold rush gripping parts of Mufumbwe.

Meanwhile, in a separate sweep across Lusaka on July 4, immigration officers rounded up 132 illegal immigrants. The majority, 115, were Burundian nationals, with the rest comprising 10 Tanzanians, six Rwandese, and one Congolese. All were removed from the country on Friday, July 18.

Kasumbalesa also recorded arrests. Immigration officers there detained 22 Congolese nationals suspected of lacking proper documentation. The suspects remain in custody pending screening and possible prosecution.

Immigration Department Spokesperson Namati Nshinka said the joint operations are part of a broader effort to uphold Zambia’s sovereignty and ensure that foreigners in the country are compliant with the law.

“This is not just about immigration status, it’s about national interest,” one officer said under condition of anonymity.

The Department has called on the public to report any suspected illegal immigrants in their areas, especially in mining hotspots experiencing cross-border influxes.

The crackdown follows rising tensions in Mufumbwe, where illegal mining has triggered deadly clashes with law enforcement and sparked alarm over unregulated foreign involvement in the gold sector.