Zimbabwe deports nuisance illegal immigrant

A 34-year-old man from Equatorial Guinea, who has been living in Zimbabwe without a valid permit since 2014, has been sentenced to pay a fine of US$100 and will be deported to his home country. The individual, Angue Benjamin Nchama, was convicted of violating Zimbabwe's Immigration Act by remaining in the country without a valid visitor's certificate.

Bulawayo Magistrate, Mr. Ernest Muzembe, handed down the sentence, noting that the accused did not have the necessary permit to stay in Zimbabwe. In his ruling, Mr. Muzembe emphasized that this was a strict liability offence, meaning that the prosecution did not need to prove Nchama's intent in violating immigration laws.

"His continued stay in Zimbabwe, without the proper documentation, poses a risk to national security," said Mr. Muzembe, referencing concerns raised by the Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. Godfrey Kondo.

Nchama, a former student at Bulawayo Polytechnic College, arrived in Zimbabwe in 2014 on a student visa that expired in January 2025. Despite several extensions, he failed to renew his permit and continued residing in the country unlawfully. The case came to light when Nchama was in Harare, where he had been taken to court by his girlfriend's mother, Ms. Gertrude Makwamba, who sought a protection order against him.

Ms. Makwamba alleged that Nchama had been violent towards her, blaming her for not properly grooming his girlfriend and accusing her of hiring men to engage with her daughter. The allegations of assault were a key part of the legal proceedings.

In addition to the fine and deportation order, Nchama's four-month prison sentence was suspended. He will now be deported back to Equatorial Guinea, where he will face further consequences for his actions.