New school initiative aims to instill respect for immigration laws

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Kinondoni District Commissioner Saad Mtambule has urged the public to expose individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants so that security agencies can investigate and take action against those residing in the country unlawfully.

He made this call today when launching an immigration club at Green Acres School in Dar es Salaam, accompanied by the Dar es Salaam Regional Immigration Officer, Vicent Haule, and the Mayor of Kinondoni, Songoro Mnyonge.

Mtambule noted that his district has over 200 schools; consequently, they would visit schools one by one to encourage the establishment of immigration clubs as a strategy to instill in children an aversion to illegal immigration from an early age.

“We will go around encouraging schools to adopt this initiative so that students become familiar with immigration matters while they are young. We welcome immigrants, but only those who follow our country’s procedures and laws; therefore, we must mold children to reject illegal immigration right from this foundational stage,” he said.

“When a mother at home bakes a cake, she does so for her own children; if the neighbor’s children come and eat it while her own go without, it is not right. We must report individuals whose residency status in the country appears questionable to the authorities,” he said.

He stated that the Ubungo District Defense and Security Committee would prioritize the issue of immigration as a critical matter, ensuring that no one enters or resides in the district without following proper procedures.

“There are people being lured by trivial things into harboring these illegal immigrants; I urge you not to give illegal immigrants the opportunity to stay in our areas, because if we discover you have hidden one and we apprehend them, you too will be implicated and face legal action,” he said.

The District Commissioner commended the country’s Immigration Department, led by Dr. Anna Makakala, for its tireless efforts—working day and night—to control illegal immigration.

Kinondoni Municipal Mayor Songoro Mnyonge stated that the establishment of the club is a significant achievement, as it enables students to understand the dangers associated with illegal immigration from an early age.

“It is crucial to instill in these youth the importance of rejecting illegal immigration, given the known consequences; the establishment of these clubs is a fundamental initiative worthy of emulation,” he said.

“I commend Green Acres for agreeing to launch this club at the school—you are the first to do so in the Dar es Salaam Region. Notably, this school was founded by our late Councilor for Magomeni, Bujugo; although he has passed away, his vision lives on,” he added.

Furthermore, Mayor Songoro commended the Director of Green Acres School, Jackline Rushaigo, for successfully upholding and advancing her father’s vision, ensuring the school maintains its academic excellence.

In turn, the school’s Director, Jackline Rushaigo, thanked the national Immigration Department for selecting her school—out of thousands across the country—to be the first to launch this club.

“You have witnessed how we nurture our students’ talents; we strive to instill strong moral values in them so that they become upstanding citizens even outside the school environment. I assure you that this club will be of great benefit to our nation,” she said.