KAGERA BELCHES BLACK SMOKE

It is breathing down the necks of illegal immigrants. The breath is hefty, unabated and unrelenting

The immigration department of Tanzania has issued a grace period (read ultimatum) to illegal immigrants in Kagera region. (Kagera is the Tanzanian region that borders Rwanda and Burundi).

It has asked them to leave the country of their own accord or face forceful repatriation to their home countries.

The bulk of these illegal immigrants are from Burundi and Rwanda. Most of them immigrated to Tanzania during the genocide way back in 1994 and subsequent years. Tanzania has been their home in more ways than one. Other illegal immigrants are from Congo, Uganda and Kenya.

Last week the BBC interviewed some of them. They voiced their fears and said that they were being harasssed by immigration authorities. The immigration spokesperson in the area vehemently denied the allegations.

Those of them with properties that they deem will be cumbersome on the journey should sell or dispose of them, so have they been eloquently told. Those who have 'acquired' wives or husbands who are Tanzanian will be forced to acquire residence permits in order to stay with their families in Tanzania.

...Thus the sword of damocles dangles threatening to plunge. Anyone out there?!!