Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli last week ordered for the deportation of foreigners living in the country illegally, a move interpreted as aiming at reducing the number of foreigners doing jobs that can be done by Tanzanian nationals.
Only 680 foreigners have work permits, according to the country’s immigration department and only 66 have applied for residence permits.
This is not the first time Tanzania has launched a crackdown on foreigners.
In September 2013, the government cracked down on immigrants, fuelling doubts about its commitment to the East African Community.
This week beginning, the government of Tanzania has justified its decision to expel illegal foreign nationals from the country.
The new government has said that it would arrest, arraign in court and deport all nationals without proper documentation.
A local daily has also quoted an assistant internal affairs minister stating that the presence of foreigners in jobs that could be done by locals is one of the causes of growing unemployment.
editor@ugchristiannews.com
