Seven Ugandans fined for illegal entry into Zimbabwe

A Zimbabwean court has fined seven Ugandans for entering the country illegal after they sneaked through the Zambian border on their way to Botswana.

The Ugandans, who were found with valid passports, claimed that they were tricked by a group of Zimbabwean human traffickers who convinced them that they would be arrested if they went through the Victoria Falls border.

Namburu Safina (27), Nanyazi Esther (29), Kobusingye Madina (27), Nnabbanja Florence (20), Ddmba Yusuf (21), Nyanzi Ismail (37), and Muzinguzi Fabriano (28) were fined between $10 and $30 by a Victoria Falls magistrate last Friday.

SEEK REFUGE

Magistrate Sharon Rosemani found them guilty of violating the country’s immigration laws.

They told the court that they paid the traffickers $47 (500 rand) each instead of the $85 (900 rand) they had initially been asked for.

Ernest Shoko, a Zimbabwean accused of human trafficking, was given $50 bail after he was charged with assisting the illegal immigrants.

People from the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa, enroute to South Africa or Botswana to seek refuge, frequently pass through Zimbabwe's borders.

Last week, 15 Zimbabweans died while trying to cross a crocodile-infested Limpopo River to neighbouring South Africa. (READ: 15 Zimbabwe migrants drown en route to S. Africa)

Their bodies were retrieved from the flooded river by South African and Zimbabwean police last Thursday.