Namanga Immigration acquires new offices

by Nyamanoko Bwire

The Regional Immigration Department of Arusha has bought the building which used to belong to the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) Limited, at the Namanga border town in Monduli district.

Speaking to the Arusha Times, the Regional Immigration Officer (RIO), Method Rwekeza, said the premises, which used to serve as the NBC banking branch for the Tanzanian-Kenya border area, was purchased at Tsh.40 million.

The building was officially handed over to the Immigration Department on Saturday, the 30^th of August, this year in a short ceremony attended by the Office in-Charge of Immigration procedures at the Tanzanian High Commission Office in Nairobi - Kenya, Mrs Vicky Lembeli.

According to Rwekeza, the premises will now serve as the Immigration offices for the border post of Namanga, in charge of administrations.

This will be a breath of fresh air, because all administration and management undertakings, which were once bundled in the tiny room at the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) premises, will now occupy much larger space.

However, the Regional Immigration Officer added that, other procedures, like the handling of foreign visitors who cross the border through the Namanga border post, will still be taking place in the usual single office at the TRA building.

The Regional Immigration Officer also pointed out that, with the newly acquired office premises at the Namanga border post, his department intends to employ more members of staff to serve at the busy border town offices.

"This is to increase the effectiveness of immigration procedures because Namanga gets busier with each passing day!" 

Last modified: September 11, 2003.
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