Over 10,000 illegal immigrants arrested last year in Tanzania

BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER.

Over 10,000 illegal immigrants were caught in the country until the end of 2012, the National Assembly yesterday.

Responding to a question asked by Khatib Said Haji (Konde, CUF) who wanted to know the number of illegal immigrants caught in the country, Home Affairs deputy minister Perreira Silima said about 10,045 immigrants were arrested from January to December 2012. 

He said “Among all the immigrants caught last year, 3115 immigrants were charged in court, 4,698 immigrants were repatriated, 501 were fined, and 398 are currently serving in prisons; adding that a case for 183 immigrants was still pending in court.”

With those figures released by the deputy ministry, it implies that on average 837 immigrants are arrested monthly and 28 immigrants are arrested daily.

Silima said his government plans to purchase vehicles, motorcycles and boats that could help immigration officials to carry out continuous patrols to nab the illegal immigrants.

“In the fight against illegal immigrants, the government through its immigration department and other government security organs has been carrying out various patrols and operations which have enabled them to arrest some illegal immigrants and managed to bring them to court,” Silima noted.

He added that the government is providing training to its employees so as to deal with the new ways and techniques being used by immigrants to escape hands of immigration authorities.

Similarly, when responding to Haji’s supplementary question the deputy minister in all these processes the government in collaboration with the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) have joined hands to arrest the growing problem.

Legislator Haji had sought to know why the government did not task TPDF to curb the problem as it has been the case for illegal fishing on the Indian Ocean.

The deputy minister revealed according to recent a research carried out by both the immigration department and the Mzumbe University, it has been recommended to establishment a kind of an electronic system that would connect all the immigration offices across the country, improve working facilities, and train employees on regular basis. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN: http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=55295