Government has launched investigations into allegations that some expatriate workers at Kamakanga Gemstone Mine Limited (KAGEM) in Lufwanyama district are operating without work permits.
Immigration Department Director General Moola Milomo confirmed the development in an interview yesterday saying Immigration officers had since been deployed to physically assess the situation at KAGEM.
“I can confirm that the Immigration department commenced investigations into allegations that some foreigners at KAGEM Mine are operating without work permits and right now a team of Immigration officers are on their way to physically assess what is going on at KAGEM Mine,” he said.
Mr Milomo said if found guilty the expatriates would be prosecuted for failing to comply with the Immigration Act number 18 of 2010 which clearly stated that no foreign officer shall be allowed to work locally without a Zambian work permit.
“It is a serious offence for a foreigner to work without a Zambian work permit and if found guilty those officers will be liable and they will immediately be prosecuted for violating the Immigration act number 18 of 2010,” he said.
He urged all mining firms to comply with Immigration laws by ensuring that expatriate employees were operating with genuine Zambian work permits.
Last week, KAGEM Mining board director Timothy Walamba threatened to engage the Immigration Department should the expatriates without genuine work permits decline to relinquish their positions and leave the country.
Mr Walamba was also distressed to learn that three quarters of the workforce at KAGEM constituted foreign employees doing jobs that Zambians could do.
mbonge
January 15, 2013 at 11:29 am
this is just a joke iwe walamba all along you been a board of director and a part and parcel of persons who authorise the organization you operate in to employee what kind of personnel to employ but today you are saying surprise to find out that three quarters are foreigners when its you who brought them here.
fk
January 15, 2013 at 2:54 pm
let him fish them out,mr walamba is now born again and is able to distingush right from wrong,go ahead sir and sin no more.
ba medza
January 15, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Its a real situation & if u were to carryout your assessment u will be amazed to see the number of these foreigners at & around kagem.pilala is full of these senegalise buying emaralds frm elegal miners & they are ruining our business,fitamfyeni fimambala!
Umusambashi
January 15, 2013 at 7:34 pm
How so true…one wld think KAGEM is for foreigners only. Th immigratn team tht hs bn assignd ths task shld do an honest job, remember, we r looking at u and upon ur investigations with an eagle’s eye…do not cheat
Captain
January 16, 2013 at 6:51 am
Welcome back ba tumveleko. Did you go on sabbatical leave bane??
Am also distressed to learn that three quarters of the workforce is of foreign employees.
Amai Tilikuseli
January 16, 2013 at 9:31 am
Not only KAGEM its all the mines and factories in Zambia they are full of SEMSKILLED expatriates especialy the ones from South Africa.Zambians wake up our jobs are beeing by semskilled white foreigners. Please can someone flash them out we our jobs.
Cumbu Munshololwa
January 16, 2013 at 9:57 am
Check Mopani as well. In MUf, it is Mining Peruvians, Met plants, Indians.
Suna
January 16, 2013 at 11:01 am
They should even came to kansanshi mine.
Bochenifye
January 16, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Minister FIRE this DIRRTY
Yamwela
January 16, 2013 at 5:24 pm
True semiskilled whites and blacks from RSA taking our jobs.We are so scared when we see a white person we simply conclude that he knows everything and yet not. The big problem is our corrupt immaigration officers they are so weak when they see money.The Mines and Factories are full of cheap semiskilled expatriates. Can someone do somthing please.
cobus
January 16, 2013 at 5:36 pm
in southern africa zambia is the only country were you can work without a permit eg david livingstone safari lodge and spa in livingstone my coligue r still wrking without permits Immigration officers were eating with us on the same table.
icarus
January 19, 2013 at 8:58 pm
Ba Milomo be sensible. A true and learned expertriate can tot even attemp to work when his or her credentials are not even accredited waumfwa. Check even their qualifications . . They could be FORGED. Its only in Zambia you allow vaupuba va so. Wait till the tuma emerald get wiped up. You people in authority are total failiures protecting zambias interests. Obviously they corrupt you to behave soft on them. Do you even know that Emeralds there in kagem are finishing assets. Do you. What has the GVT gotten or built frm. Our share, we the people, the zambian. Tapali, nothing. That’s your food for thought milimo waumfwa. Not chikukalipe cause I know the truth hurts. Shame.