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Tanzania alert on possible influx of Kenyans
2008-01-01 09:20:46
By Correspondent Michael Haonga
The government said yesterday that it had stepped up security on the country’s border with Kenya due to growing tensions and civil strife in the neighbouring country, following last Thursday’s disputed presidential election results.
However, Tanzania will close the border as a last resort once it becomes necessary to protect people and their properties in the boundary regions, but so far, things are completely under control.
Public Safety and Security Minister Bakari Mwapachu told The Guardian in an interview yesterday that due to the on-going internal violence, there was a possibility that some Kenyans might opt to flee to Tanzania.
He said heads of defense and security forces were meeting in Dar es Salaam to discuss the situation, particularly security along the country’s border with Kenya, with a view to keeping a close eye on the country’s safety.
“As they meet, the Inspector General of Police has been given instructions to alert regional police commanders to tighten security so that people with ill motives do not take advantage of the situation,” he said.
Mwapachu said Tanzania would monitor the on-going influx of people from Kenya, although understandably it was normal for people in the border regions such as Mara, Tanga, Kigoma, Kagera, and Mbeya to intermingle socially and business-wise.
He said even prior to the general elections in Kenya, people of East African countries had been crossing borders on blood relationship, business, and other grounds.
He cautioned that the reported influx of Kenyan nationals should be studied “carefully, but positively.”
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