Morogoro: Lack of translators holds back immigration cases

BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER

Though thousands of illegal immigrants were arrested last year, apparently only 20 have seen the inside of a courtroom, reports the prosecutor from the Immigration Department, Herimina Foya who blamed the situation on a shortage of interpreters.

That surprisingly low count of court cases in comparison to the number of arrests came about as the Immigration Department in Morogoro released the illegal immigrant figures for the year 2011/2012 numbering 1,835 who were arrested and 43 who died during the treacherous border crossing attempt.

Max Gogadi, an immigration officer, made the data public during an interview held over the weekend. He also clarified that most illegal immigrants only cross into the country en-route to other destinations and mostly South Africa.

The officer confirmed the immigration department’s responsibility in securing the nation’s borders and in that effort the authority has adopted various strategies.

Key initiatives adopted, to curb illegal immigration is inter-departmental cooperation especially with local police and secondly, public awareness campaigns that call on the masses to report anyone they suspect to be in the country illegally.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (07/01/2013): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=49860