Villagers allege discrimination at border immigration centre

Residents of Mtwara living on the border with neighbouring Mozambique have accused the government of abandoning the Kilambo Immigration Centre.

They complain that they can no longer acquire emergency travel documents that were before issued at the centre.

The villagers of Tangazo, Mahurunga, Kataya and Kilambo wards further alleged that service was stopped some four years ago and they have since then been forced to rely on only phone conversations to reach their relatives in Mozambique.

For example, Salumu Issa, a resident of Kilambo village, Tangazo ward, explained that the centre is not closed but rather it is alleged to be discriminately addressing only foreigners’ issues and neglecting the locals.

“We’re forced to travel some 35 kms from the border to get documents at Mtwara town,” he complained.

“When we’re in Mtwara town, apart from paying 10,000/- as fees for the documents, we also to incur other travel, food and accommodation costs which just make life unbearable,” he added.

He explained that hiring a motorcycle to and from Mtwara town costs more than 30,000/- an amount that the impoverished villagers cannot afford.

He also revealed a matter tjsat threatens national security that he associated with the discrimination at the immigration post saying because of the high and unaffordable fees many enter to and from Mozambique illegally.

Kilambo Village Executive Officer Issa Kachala admitted that the they are having major issues with the border immigration centre.

“Many residents here are either married to Tanzanians or Mozambicans, which means there is no way they could live without visiting their parents, grandfathers, sons and daughters on each country,” he said.

Tangazo ward councilor, Mohamed Said, also acknowledged the complaints from fellow villagers but asserted that the regional government was working on the matters.

Mtwara District Commissioner, Wilman Kapenjama promised to convene a meeting of the District Defense and Security Committee to discuss the issue.

“I’ll convene a meeting of the District Defense and Security Committee to deliberate the matter. We shall ensure that the Kilambo Immigration Centre provides service to the villagers equally,” he pledged.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN