Immigration foils Jonas Zimba’s attempt to leave Zambia

The Department of Immigration has confirmed a high-stakes security incident at the Victoria Falls Border Control in Livingstone, where an attempt by prominent lawyer and political figure Jonas Zimba to leave Zambia was successfully intercepted. According to preliminary reports from border authorities, the operation unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning between 01:00 and 02:00 hours, involving the suspected clandestine facilitation of departure by a rogue immigration officer. Sources at the border revealed that an immigration officer, identified as Masheke Masheke, allegedly accompanied Zimba to the border post in an attempt to bypass standard exit protocols. However, alert immigration and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) personnel on duty recognized Zimba and moved in to question the circumstances surrounding his abrupt and unusual travel schedule. Rather than submitting to verification, Zimba reportedly drove away from the border control zone, leaving the scene entirely. Following the aborted exit, the immigration officer who accompanied him was immediately detained by superiors for questioning regarding gross professional misconduct and breaches of national security procedures. The incident has sent shockwaves through legal and political circles in Lusaka and Livingstone alike, coming at a tense political juncture as the nation processes ongoing electoral developments. Zimba, a well-known defense counsel, has also been associated with political alignment as an accredited representative at the National Results Centre. Security and immigration wings have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the full scope of the attempted departure and whether any other internal accomplices facilitated the breach. The Department of Immigration has reiterated its commitment to strict border enforcement and the rule of law, emphasizing that no individual, regardless of social standing or professional status, is exempt from standard exit checks and legal scrutin