THE Siavonga Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a Zimbabwean to five months imprisonment with hard labour for entering Zambia without a resident permit and for failing to appear before an immigration officer.

Before Siavonga magistrate Victoria Chitulangoma was Robert Chizemba, a businessman of Nyamunga area in Kariba town.

The accused person was charged with two counts contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Details in count one were that Chizemba on 7th July this year did enter Zambia without a temporary resident permit or a passport.

The court recorded that the accused entered Zambia through Zambezi River using a canoe.

In count two, particulars were that Chizemba on the same date did fail to appear before an immigration officer upon arriving in Zambia.

The accused admitted committing the offence when he took plea in court.

In mitigation, the accused asked the court to fine him.

In passing sentence, magistrate Chitulangoma said she took into consideration what the accused said in his mitigation and that by law he was entitled to leniency.

She, however, said Chizemba’s mitigation lacked remorse hence giving him a custodial sentence.

” t’s not always that when you commit this offence you expect the court to impose a fine, no! Beside your mitigation lacks remorse. So I sentence you to five months imprisonment with hard labour. This is a custodial sentence so that you learn a lesson that what you did was wrong, ” said magistrate Chitulangoma.