‘All deserving citizens will get national IDs’

SUNDAY NEWS REPORTER

IN a bid to ensure the National Identity Cards are offered to right persons, the government has so far succeeded to conduct verification and registration exercises to more than 500,000 public servants across the country.

The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Maj. General Projestus Rwegasira, said on Thursday evening that the ministry is continuing with preparations to provide IDs to all qualified Tanzanians.

The PS was responding to questions during an interview on a local TV regarding his ministry’s performance in the implementation of several programmes.

He said the government started with the registration and verification of IDs for civil servants and that so far things are in good order.

He said the government through its bodies is keen to ensure the IDs are provided to genuine Tanzanians by going through various documents to verify nationality.

“We are involving the Immigration Department, local governments and other officials to ensure the national IDs are offered to the right people,” he said.

Moreover, Maj. General Rwegasira, said all qualified Tanzanians are entitled to get national IDs for free and that the government is doing everything in its power to see that happening.

“Every Tanzanians above 18 years deserve a national ID, but in doing so we make sure these IDs are provided to genuine Tanzanians. We screen and scan each and every document,” he said.

The PS also warned immigration officers who are accused of receiving bribes as a condition for serving people to immediately stop the bad practice. “There are complaints from people that some officers demand bribes so that they process their passports and other documents.

I would like to use this opportunity to warn those officers to stop immediately or risk losing their jobs,” he said.

On illegal immigrants, the PS said immigration officers in collaboration with other security bodies have strengthened patrols and searches in various areas and that from January to November, 2016 a total 8,100 illegal immigrants have been arrested in the country.

He said immigration officers conduct regular searches in guest houses, markets and other areas. On refugees from neighbouring countries, the PS said Tanzania has continued to receive refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi.

He said so far the number of refugees in Kagera and Kigoma regions have reached 270,000. “Many people run to Tanzania whenever there are fighting or problems in their mother countries, ours is an island of peace that is why other nationals find it to be a safe place for them,” he said.

According to Maj. General Rwegasira, the government in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been working closely to ensure all refugees get basic needs and required treatment.