Tanzania lifts residence
restrictions for
East African citizens
Zephania Ubwani & Elias Biryabarema
Arusha /Kampala.
Tanzania has finally lifted its objections to the right of residence by nationals from the other East African Community partner states under the proposed East African Common Market Protocol.
Citizens of other EAC states can now settle in the country as long as they engage in meaningful economic activities or are in employment.
EAC officials confirmed in Arusha yesterday that Tanzania made what looked like a U-turn during the just-ended third round of negotiations for the EAC Common Market Protocol in Bujumbura, Burundi.
When contacted yesterday for comment, the deputy minister for East African Cooperation, Mr Mohamed Aboud, said there was nothing unusual in what the country's representatives to the Bujumbura meeting announced.
"In principle, Tanzania has no objection to foreigners working in the country because we are short of doctors, engineers and other experts," he told The Citizen by telephone from Zanzibar. He said, however, that the Cabinet would have to be briefed on the decision.
"If it is decided that the decision will serve national interests, then that would be fine. If not, it will have to be looked into afresh," Mr Aboud said, adding that the Government would study implications of the decision like other EAC protocols.
No comments:
Post a Comment