Slaa faults government’s diaspora special status plan

 

By The Citizen Reporter

Media/news company Mwananchi Communication Limited

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.