Dar es Salaam. Politician and diplomat Willibrod Slaa yesterday joined the debate about need for dual citizenship as the government defended its
plan to introduce special status for its citizens living in the Diaspora by the end of the year.
The Tanzanians in the diaspora have been pushing for government to allow dual
citizenship which would enable them to have divine right in their original
country as they live abroad to look for opportunities.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Stergomena
Tax, announced in Parliament on Tuesday that the government will complete the
process of granting them special status (Tanzania Non-Citizen Diaspora) by
December 2023.
She said the diaspora made 10 recommendations that have been considered and
will be included in the special status arrangement.
However, Dr Slaa, who previously served as ambassador of Tanzania
to Nordic countries, said the government should make the process participatory
by involving the diaspora.
Speaking during an interview, Dr Slaa said Tanzanians in the diaspora were not
involved in the process of instituting the special status for them.
“No one knows who was involved in this process,” said Dr Slaa, adding that the
government should not use force through the plan.
He said the government is supposed to hold dialogues with its people to have
consensus on the matter in attempt to protect Tanzanians living in the
diaspora.
“Sometimes we fail to make the necessary preparations even when the matter has
good intentions,” he said.
Dr Slaa said the government is aware of the role the diaspora plays to
Tanzanian economic development, stressing that they should not lose their
origin for just fleeing to other nations in search for better life.
“These people have their roots here as their ancestors were in Tanzania even if
they might be dead. There is no way we can deny these people the right to be
Tanzanians,” he said.
Government defends status
Reached for comments yesterday, Dr Tax defended the government
plan to introduce special status, saying the process involved the diaspora in
different countries through their associations.
“We thoroughly involved the diaspora. Those who are opposing the planned
special status have their hidden agenda and interests,” she said.
Dr Tax said different government officials met diaspora in different countries
to hear their opinions.
She also asked those who are not satisfied with the process to form a group and
channel their opinions to the government.
A Tanzanian who lives in the UK, Mr Tito Magoti, said there was no
thorough negotiations between the government and the diaspora, hence lack of
consensus about the matter.
“It’s unfortunate that the government claims to have involved the diaspora
while many of them are receiving it as a surprise,” said Mr Magoti.
He added that diaspora demanded dual citizenship to get some rights and
services as natural Tanzanians.
According to him having a special status does not recognize the natural birth
of the diaspora.
The secretary of Diaspora Council of Tanzanians in America (DICOTA), Shaban
Fundi said the engagement of diaspora was done through sampling of groups.
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