Online Reporter
LUSAKA. – Ten Ethiopians are believed to have drowned after a canoe carrying migrants capsized attempting to illegally cross the Zambezi River from Zambia into Botswana, Zambian officials said yesterday.
A group of 15 Ethiopians attempted the Zambezi crossing on Monday night, police and immigration officials said in a joint statement.
Two survivors were arrested, while authorities said 10 people are believed to have drowned.
The whereabouts of three other reported survivors were unknown.
Zambia’s Department of Immigration spokesperson, Namati Nshinka, said that a collaborative effort involving the Zambia Police, Zambia Army Marine Services, and other relevant authorities was underway to search for the allegedly missing illegal immigrants.
Nshinka said the matter came to light on Tuesday when members of the public alerted the immigration department to the presence of two Ethiopian nationals who had sought assistance after emerging from the river.
Immigration officers responded promptly and identified the two as Menigstu Getachew Arenga (33), an undocumented Ethiopian national, and Anebo Madamo Demeke (35), who was found in possession of a passport but had allegedly failed to present himself before an immigration officer upon entry into Zambia, contrary to the Immigration and Deportation Act.
According to preliminary information obtained from the two individuals, the canoe allegedly capsized during the crossing. They reported that five members of the group managed to swim to safety, while 10 others were feared to have drowned. The whereabouts of the remaining three alleged survivors are currently unknown.
The Zambia Police Service and the Department of Immigration immediately launched a coordinated search and rescue operation involving the Zambia Army Marine Special Forces, the Zambia Police Marine Unit, and the Fire Brigade and Rescue Services. – Agencies
