Zanzibar reports rise in irregular migration of children from the Mainland

Zanzibar reports rise in irregular migration of children from the Mainland

Dar es Salaam. The government has said there is a rise in irregular migration of children from mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar, primarily driven by poverty and mistreatment.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Ms Abeida Rashid, made this statement on July 23, 2024 during the National Dialogue on Addressing Irregular Migration and Enhancing the Protection of Vulnerable Migrants in Tanzania.

She said that last year, 66 children were discovered on the streets after arriving through illegal routes from the mainland to Zanzibar.

“From January to this month we found 19 who have been taken to safe houses where they receive necessary training to support themselves,” she said.

Rashid emphasised ongoing efforts to provide protection and assistance services to migrant children, underscoring the challenges faced by social welfare and immigration officers in handling cases of irregular migration among children and adults alike.

“The government remains steadfast in ensuring their protection despite the challenges, with safe houses playing a crucial role in delivering essential protection services and setting a precedent for addressing the needs of vulnerable migrants.”

“This national dialogue exemplifies our commitment to fostering platforms where stakeholders and government bodies can collaboratively address critical migration issues,” she added.

“Migration is a global phenomenon that impacts us all,” Rashid said, adding that Tanzanians seek opportunities abroad, while Tanzania also hosts migrants from around the world.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safe, orderly, and dignified migration, as reflected in policies designed to protect migrants, especially those in vulnerable situations.

She highlighted collaborative efforts with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar in operationalizing safe houses for trafficking victims.

Addressing irregular migration and enhancing protection for vulnerable migrants is a shared responsibility, stressed Rashid, emphasising ongoing awareness campaigns in Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania to educate communities about the risks associated with irregular migration.

The Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Tanzania, Shabnam Mallick, underscored migration’s global impact on societies and economies.

She cited UN statistics showing 281 million international migrants, or 3.6 percent of the global population, emphasising both opportunities and challenges for those in vulnerable situations.

Mallick pledged the UN’s support to help unravel migration complexities in Tanzania, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) principles to ensure no one is left behind.

“Migrants contribute to multiple SDGs, including reducing inequalities, promoting decent work and economic growth, and strengthening institutions,” he noted, advocating collaborative efforts to generate actionable recommendations for effective migration management and protection of vulnerable migrants in Tanzania.

“Women constitute 48 percent of the global migrant population, with approximately 36 million child migrants worldwide,” she said.

She stressed Africa’s role as host to 25.4 million international migrants, with significant intercontinental migration.

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Tanzania's opposition party ACT Wazalendo honours veteran politician under new policy
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Tanzania’s opposition party ACT Wazalendo honours veteran politician under new policy

Unguja. Opposition party ACT Wazalendo today officially bids farewell to its former Chairman, Juma Duni Haji, also known as Babu Duni, as part of a new policy designed to honor retired senior leaders at a ceremony held at Kiembesamaki, Zanzibar.

The initiative highlights the party’s commitment to recognizing and supporting individuals who have served with dedication and integrity.

Babu Duni, who stepped down earlier this year, was succeeded by Othman Masoud, now the First Vice President of Zanzibar.

The policy aims to provide ongoing respect and support to retired leaders, ensuring their continued recognition and contribution to the party’s development.

“Recognizing their significant contributions to the development and prosperity of the party, this policy ensures that retired leaders continue to be acknowledged and respected by both the party and the community,” the policy states.

To benefit from this policy, leaders must not have left or been expelled from the party. They must have served the party with honor and dedication. The national leadership committee will determine whether a leader has fulfilled these criteria.

The policy seeks to honor retired leaders, protect their dignity, acknowledge their contributions, leverage their ideas for the party’s growth, and support them to the best of the party’s ability.

In honoring these leaders, the party will provide a vehicle, the type of which will be determined by the national leadership committee. Additionally, they will receive a monthly allowance, with the amount also set by this committee.

Other benefits include health insurance. If a leader does not own a home, the party will cover their rent at a rate decided by the committee.

The leadership committee may also grant special recognition based on the leader’s contributions. Retired leaders will participate in decision-making meetings according to procedures outlined in the party’s constitution.

Depending on the party’s resources at the time, the policy may also apply to retired deputy chairpersons for both the mainland and Zanzibar, the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General for both mainland and Zanzibar, and the party’s Attorney General.

Additionally, leaders, executives, or members with exceptional contributions to the party’s protection, advocacy, and defense may also benefit, as determined by the leadership committee.

Currently, those who are eligible for benefits under this policy include Juma Duni Haji (retired party Chairman) and Zitto Kabwe (retired party leader).Continue Reading