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.