Eight Zimbabwean airport employees have been accused of smuggling 23 Ethiopian nationals into the country. The group, which includes immigration officers and security personnel, allegedly used restricted VIP areas and unauthorized routes to move the Ethiopians through the airport. They also concealed the individuals overnight in the Vakacha Lounge and failed to report their presence.
The smuggling operation began on March 15, 2025, when five Ethiopian citizens arrived at the airport on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET from Addis Ababa. Over the next day, 18 more Ethiopian nationals arrived on two additional flights, and the accused officials allegedly used identical methods to smuggle the second group. By 7:00 PM on March 16, all 23 Ethiopians had boarded Eswatini Airlines flight RN401 to Manzini, Eswatini.
The 23 Ethiopian nationals were arrested upon arrival in Eswatini, convicted, and fined $100 each or three months of imprisonment. The eight Zimbabwean airport employees have been remanded in custody until Thursday for a formal bail hearing. The case represents one of the most significant breaches of airport security protocols in recent Zimbabwean history.
Dandaro Online, Breaking News in Zimbabwe today
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