Chinese “Mukwasha” Found Hiding In Seke Village, Deported After 278-day Overstay

A Zimbabwean court has ordered a Chinese national to return to his country of origin after he was arrested for overstaying by 278 days.

Xu Jianguo, 52, arrived in Zimbabwe on 10 June 2024 on a single-entry business visa. On 22 July 2024, he was granted a Temporary Employment Permit, which expired on 22 July 2025. He remained in the country for a further 278 days, leading to his arrest.

Chitungwiza Magistrate Batsirai Madzingira sentenced him to four months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, and ordered that he be deported to China.

The State’s case, led by public prosecutor Shamiso Charmaine Mwapangira, showed that from July 2025 to 27 April 2026, Xu Jianguo unlawfully remained in Zimbabwe for 278 days without a valid permit. This contravened Section 29(1)(a) as read with Section 29(2)(a) of the Immigration Act [Chapter 4:02] – “Enter, be or remain in Zimbabwe without a valid permit”.

At the time of his arrest, he was staying at Kuora Village, Chitungwiza, Seke, where he told detectives he was married to a Zimbabwean national, Rosina Sachiwo.

At around 12:30 pm on 27 April this year, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department in Chitungwiza received a tip-off that a Chinese national was living in Kuora Village, Seke, without proper documentation.

Acting on the information, the detectives went to the village and located him. He told them he was married to a Zimbabwean woman, Sachiwo.

After checking his passport, they established that he had entered the country on 10 June 2024 through Robert Gabriel International Airport on a single-entry business visa.

The State said Xu Jianguo was issued a Temporary Employment Permit on 22 July 2024, which expired on 22 July 2025, but he chose to remain in Zimbabwe.

On 28 April this year, the accused was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department Counter Terrorism Unit for further management.

His passport was produced in court as evidence of his 278-day overstay.

More: The Herald