adminAdelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
POLICE in Victoria Falls have arrested seven Somalis, three of them teenagers, for entering the country illegally. Khialid Mohammed, 20, Abdullani Husan, 18, a 17-year-old boy, Muhamed Adbulah 20, Abdala Ibrahim, 20, Hassan Athumen, 18, and Achiso Errcalo, 20, all pleaded guilty to the crime when they appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate, Rangarirai Gakanje on Wednesday.
They were, however, lucky after the magistrate warned, cautioned and discharged them saying she had considered their ages and that they had no money.
Gakanje ruled that the seven be deported.
Mohammed, Husan, Cabdule, Abdullah, Ibrahim, Athumen and Errcalo told the court that they were fleeing the civil war in their country.
They said they were on their way to South Africa to seek employment when they passed through the country via Zambia.
Mohammed said: “We came to Zimbabwe because there is war in our country. Things aren’t well in our country and we wanted to go to South Africa to find jobs.”
Prosecuting, David Tivakudze told the court that on Sunday the seven, who are from Somalia, illegally entered the country from Zambia.
“The seven crossed through a bushy area near Victoria Falls Border Post. They later went to Chinotimba Bus Terminus where they intended to board a bus to Bulawayo,” Tivakudze said.
Police officers received a tip-off and arrested the Somalis at the terminus.
“Upon being questioned by the police the seven admitted to have illegally entered the country with the help of an unidentified local,” the prosecutor said.
There has been an increase in the number of illegal immigrants, mostly from Pakistan, Ethiopia, DRC, Nigeria and Somalia, who enter the country illegally.
They continue staying or working without permits.
The illegal immigrants reportedly enter through Victoria Falls border post, Harare International Airport, Nyamapanda, Chirundu, Beitbridge and Forbes border posts with the assistance of human trafficking syndicates operating in both South Africa and Zimbabwe.
They remain in the country with the assistance of some friends.
Online Reporter