TANZANIA: THE government has tabled the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2024 which among other things seeks to grant special status to diaspora, a new development that illustrates that President Samia Suluhu Hassan is a leader who walks her talk.
The Bill tabled aims at introducing the long-awaited Diaspora Tanzanite card that gives special status to diaspora.
According to the tabled document, the government aims at widening the scope of identification of the prohibited immigrants and foster regional or multilateral integration, diplomatic ties.
The government also proposed amendments with a view to adding new entry authorisations, namely a Diaspora Tanzanite Card and enrolment notifications.
The section is further amended with a view to separating the words ‘passport’ and ‘visa’ since they can be applicable distinctively.
The purpose of the amendment is to enable a holder of a Diaspora Tanzanite Card or a holder of an enrolment notification to enter the United Republic using the Card or enrolment notification without prejudice to the requirement of having a valid passport.
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“Further, the amendment aims at enabling an alien immigrant who is exempted from visa requirements, to enter the United Republic by only using a valid passport,” reads part of the tabled document.
Moreover, the amendment aims at providing the maximum validity of a residence permit to be two years with an option of indefinite renewal.
Currently, the maximum validity of original residence permit is three years and the maximum duration for its renewal is two years.
“The section further provides that the total validity of original permit and its renewal should not exceed five years.
The purpose of this amendment is to remove the five years limitation for original permit and renewal so as to facilitate foreigners to stay in the United Republic for such longer periods depending on activities they undertake, including investments,” the document states.
Furthermore, the government proposed amendment for matters relating to special status to Tanzania non-citizen diaspora.
The provisions are meant to apply to a person who was formerly a citizen of the United Republic other than a citizen by naturalisation, or whose either parent, grandparent or such other descendant is or was a citizen of the United Republic.
Under the proposed sections, once a person qualifies as a Tanzania non-citizen diaspora and ultimately granted a special status, such status will enable the Tanzania non-citizen diaspora to enjoy certain rights and privileges such as the right to entry and stay in the United Republic as well as engaging in various economic and social activities.
The Act is proposed to be amended by introducing a schedule to cover matters relating to tenure and proceedings of the Governing Board as set out under the proposed section 8B.
Part VI of the Bill proposes to amend the Land Act, Cap 113 whereby section 19 is proposed to be amended with a view to set procedure to allow a person granted special status under the Immigration Act, whether individually or through a company whose majority shareholders are persons who are holders of special status.
President Samia has said that the government is set to review and amend the Immigration Act, Cap. 54 and Land Act, Cap 113 to provide an opportunity for Tanzanians in the Diaspora to access occupancy titles on land and develop it to stimulate development.
Addressing members of the Diaspora living in South Korea, on the last day of a sixday tour, the president briefed the Diaspora community on the review of the National Foreign Policy of 2001.
This recognises Tanzanians who obtained citizenship elsewhere and can now be granted special status, including ability to take up residence without tough visa conditions.
This is meant to stimulate the participation of people with Tanzanian origin in various development initiatives, she stated, pointing out that people in the Diaspora contribute a lot to the country’s economic expectations.
They send money (remittances) to family members for investment, which generates capital, expertise and technology application, thus contributing to improving crop production, industrial goods and various services.
Tanzanians in the Diaspora have invested billions through purchasing modern houses and plots and thus stimulating economic development, she said, highlighting that last year a total of 280bn/- was channelled into the housing sector from the Diaspora.
Others bought shares totalling 6.45bn/- in the UTT Asset Management and Investors Services PLC (UTT AMIS), she stated, indicating that the legal improvement of their status will help boost this trend.
