56 Zimbabwean prostitutes arrested in Zambia

LUSAKA - FIFTY-SIX Zimbabwean women suspected to be engaged in commercial sex work have been arrested by Zambia's Department of Immigration.

The women were arrested in Lusaka in an operation conducted on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday.

Immigration spokesperson Namati Nshinka said in a statement that the guest houses which immigrations officers raided included Bulawayo in Kuomboka, Katete in Chawama, Ainet, Nsimbiyanga and Cool Park in Emmasdale.

"Also arrested during the raid were three undocumented Congolese nationals, three Egyptian carpet traders and a Burundian national in Mandevu while a Zimbabwean deportee was also nabbed in Makeni," Nshinka said.

Nshinka has since warned foreign nationals coming into the country for business, trade or social visits not to engage in illegal activities.

"The department also wishes to strongly warn owners of guest houses and lodges who provide accommodation or lodging facilities to prohibited immigrants to desist from doing so because it is an offence and they risk being prosecuted for harbouring prohibited immigrants," he said.