IMMIGRATION TO BOOST BORDER STAFF

GOVERNMENT has given the Ministry of Home Affairs a go ahead to recruit extra personnel for deployment to border post areas in a bid to curb the influx of foreigners in the country.
Home Affair Minister Ngosa Simbyakula said Government had concerted to the increase in the establishment for the Ministry of Home Affairs by allowing the recruitment of extra immigration staff for deployment to border post areas.
Dr Simbyakula said in an interview yesterday that Government was alive to the challenge of manpower along border post areas.
“The challenge of manpower around border post areas has been with us for a long time and Government has responded by allowing us to recruit extra personnel for deployment,” Dr Simbyakula said without stating the approved figures for recruitment.
He said Government was seriously concerned over the presence of illegal immigrants in the country and was determined to regulate the influx by increasing security along border post areas.
Dr Simbyakula who attributed the current influx of foreigners in the nation to the country’s economic opportunities as well as the peace being enjoyed, said Government was putting measures in place to curb the problem of illegal immigrants.
He stressed the need to deploy extra immigration staff now that the country had more border posts than before.
Dr Simbyakula said Government could not afford to take any chances by permitting the continued influx of illegal immigrants, especially in view of the current health threats such as Ebola.
“We have been given a go ahead to recruit extra staff for deployment to border post areas and we are only waiting for funding,” Dr Simbyakula said.
A number of foreigners have in the recent past been rounded up in various parts of the country in connection with various immigration offences.

Times of Zambia