Zim woman jailed for living in Cyprus illegally; I just want to go home – she tells court

By Own Correspondent

A Zimbabwean woman was last week jailed after being arrested for living illegally in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

27-year-old Patience Shingirai Nyamande, who was arrested by patrolling teams in the capital Nicosia, had been living illegally in Northern Cyprus for 2 years.

She requested to be sent back home to Zimbabwe when she appeared in court charged with being in the TRNC without a residence permit.

A police officer told the court that Nyamande was arrested in the evening of October 15 in the Küçükkaymaklı district of Nicosia.

During an immigration check, it was discovered that Nyamande had been living in the TRNC illegally since March 26, 2022

The officer urged the court to detain Nyamande, arguing that if released she would likely continue to commit the offence.

After hearing the testimony, the defendant expressed her desire to return to her home country.

Judge Nuray Necdet, after considering the evidence, ordered that Nyamande be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 20 days.