 |
 |
|
|||||
|
Issue 00534 |
September 6 - 12, 2008 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
||||
|
|||||||||||
|
Local News |
Human trafficking declines following brutal violence in South AfricaBy Raymond John The recent brutal violence against foreigners in South Africa has led to a decline in illegal immigrants from Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea passing through Tanzania. Poor townships and informal settlements around Johannesburg exploded in xenophobic violence in May this year with South African black people lynching, raping, burning and killing legal and illegal immigrants from other African countries. Arusha’s Regional
Immigration Officer, Justin Kabigumira, said in a statement to the press
cases of human trafficking have declined substantially since the brutal
violence outbreak in South Africa. He said agents who were perpetrating
the trafficking seem to have suspended the illegal “trade” or at least
scaled it down. For the past few years hundreds of Ethiopians, Eritreas and Somalis have been nabbed by immigration and police officers while on their way to South Africa. Meanwhile, statistics from the Namanga border indicate that the month of June and July recorded increased movement of people across the border compared to January this year. In June this year 20,731 people entered into Tanzania through Namanga and in July the number stood at 22,522. In January 13,518 people entered into the country through the border post. Mr. Kabigumira attributed the rise in numbers of people entering Tanzania at Namanga to the onset of the tourism peak season and the now peaceful atmosphere in Kenya. The regional immigration officer has however, warned that there are crooks posing as immigration officers going around harassing foreigners. In case of any harassment, he urged victims to call the following officials: Justin Kabigumira (RIO) – 0754 362 227, Peter Kundy (DRIO) – 0754 881 626, Peter Mbaku – 0754 285 033 and Kingdom Mwanguku - 0784 446 288.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
