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Govt shifts 14 top immigration officers for over stay

Source: THE GUARDIAN, 01/01/1970


Govt shifts 14 top immigration officers for over stay
20th March 2016 - THE GUARDIAN
The government yesterday announced transfers of 14 senior immigration
officers in what it described as a move to increase efficiency and
enhance security at border posts.

The officers were shifted from some regions to others after it was
established they had over stayed their routine terms.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Charles Kitwanga, said the step marked
the start of reforms that would involve transfers of more than 200
officers in the Immigration Division nationwide.

Last year, the government posted various key immigration officers
mainly from the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es
Salaam and the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) to other
stations elsewhere in the country. They also involved immigration
officers in the passport control, finance and ICT (information and
communications technology) sections.

The reforms also saw the sacking of officials responsible for issuing
resident permits, amid allegations of corruption.

Describing the immigration department as one of the most crucial in
terms of maintaining national security, the minister said more changes
were underway, but they were calling for sober planning to avoid
claims of victimization and favoritism.

Citing recent research findings revealing bribery-related incidents to
account for 30 per cent of the Immigration Division`s problems,
Minister Kitwanga urged immigration department personnel to adhere to
working ethics and respect the laws of the land.

He warned against temptations of taking bribes and engaging in other
malpractices like aiding illegal migrants and drug smugglers.

He mentioned other challenges facing the department as per the
research findings as poor performance that accounts for 20 per cent of
the problems, abuse of office, 20 per cent, poor working systems, lack
of equipment and poor services that jointly contribute to another 20
per cent of what he described as chronic hitches in the department.


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