Eight fishermen that were among the 17 arrested on Lake Tanganyika on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side have been released.
Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba confirmed the release of the fishermen who were captured two weeks ago.
Other fishermen were released earlier and the eight were the last to be set free by authorities in the neighbouring country.
Mr Mwamba said on arrival at Luano International Airport in Lubumbashi that the fishermen were released on Wednesday after the Zambian officials intervened during the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), which is currently sitting in DRC.
The minister said Government was concerned with the continued illegal fishing activities along the border areas.
Mr Mwamba is in the DRC with his Home Affairs counterpart Edgar Lungu to discuss the security problems, among other challenges, that Zambians were facing along the border areas.
“We are here to discuss security concerns at the border posts, we have a lot of problems as our people are being arrested for straying into this country especially fishermen,” Mr Mwamba told journalists.
Congolese soldiers held captive 16 Zambian fishermen for straying in and fishing in the DRC waters.
The Congolese authorities demanded a KR135,000 penalty fee for the release of the fishermen from Nsama District.
2013 The Times of Zambia