Tanzania's Unusual Immigration Case

[Kimweri]

[h=2][/h]

On Sunday, more people were evicted from Tanzania. Among them were three men who crossed with 84 heads of cattle. The New Times/ Timothy Kisambira.

When Samuel Mwesigye woke up early morning Friday, September 6, it looked just another normal day.

Little did the 35-year old know that he would not spend the day in the area he had called home all his life.

Yet the father of two would lose everything he had toiled for over a period spanning 20 years, in just a space of 24 hours.

It was so simple. He was told he’s Tanzanian-ness was questionable, and was therefore an ‘illegal’ immigrant’. The sentence? He lost all his 200 heads of cattle, his house, bank account with a balance of Tsh5 million (Rwf2 million deposit), and the country he and his parents had called their homeland for a generation.

While recounting the story in an interview with The New Times, Mwesigye, who’s among more than 7,000 people evicted from Tanzania on the account that they were illegal Rwandan migrants, clearly did not believe what he had gone through, wishing it was a bad dream he would wake up from.

“I woke up early as I normally did and rode my bicycle to the kraal a few kilometres away to collect milk for my family,” he recalled.

But it was a fateful morning.
“I received a call from a friend telling me that soldiers had taken my wife and children; I immediately knew what was going on, I knew they were going to be thrown out of the country and sent to Rwanda on false suspicions,” he said.

“So I rushed home only to find the house deserted. I just picked the important documents in the house, including our birth certificates, to prove we are Tanzanians.”

When he finally arrived at the place where his wife, France Karuhanga, and their two light skinned, healthy looking children aged 5 and 8, were briefly detained, Mwesigye presented the documents in his possession to prove they were not illegal immigrants.

But the officials there instead confiscated the documents, he said.

“To my surprise, they confiscated the documents, made me sit down on the floor and started whipping me insisting that we were illegal immigrants.”

Mwesigye, who was born in Tanzania, acknowledges his Rwandan roots but says his father and grandfather became naturalised citizens under Julius Nyerere’s regime.

“What I don’t understand is how my father and my grandfather are recognised as Tanzanians and I and my children are not. Still, if the authorities have decided to throw us out, why don’t they treat us as human beings and give us a chance to sell or leave with our property, including cows?


Other accounts

On Sunday morning, Mwisigye arrived at the Rusumo Border Post on a Tanzanian Police lorry, along with 28 other evictees. They were guarded by six policemen and in company of two Tanzanian immigration officers.

Yet Mwesigye was lucky. Many other evictees were less fortunate.

Jean Claude Tuyambaze, a herdsman, was not only expelled from Tanzania, but was also stabbed with a machete on his way to Rwanda.

“When rumours started spreading that we would be forced to return to Rwanda, I sold my eight bulls at Tsh2.8 million (about Rwf1.1 million) and decided to return to Rwanda.

“But on my way back home to pack my belongings and leave Tanzania at once, I met a vigilante group armed with machetes and sticks. They stopped me asked me if was Rwandan and before I could answer, they started beating me up, and stabbed me several times,” said the visibly wounded Tuyambaze.

He sustained injuries on his forehead, on the arm and in the back. And all the money was taken.

Another victim, Stephan Rushesha, owned 400 heads of cattle and a house. He narrated how Tanzanian soldiers burnt down his house and forced him out the country without anything.

“They came looking for my father who lived next door but he was away so they turned to us and ordered us to burn our houses, which we thought was a joke until they started beating us up,” recalled Rushesha.

“They tortured my brother in my presence and forced him to set our three houses ablaze. To save his life he set the houses on fire, and the soldiers immediately put us onto a truck and ferried us to the border.”

When The New Times visited the Rusumo border on Sunday, three men crossed with 84 cows.

One of them, John Nabagenza, said he did not know where he was going to put his cows since it was his first time in Rwanda.

Of confiscated property

“I don’t even have relatives here, I don’t own land in this country; I practically don’t know my fate and that of my cows,” he said.

He pointed out that he decided to return with his cows after he learnt that the Tanzanian authorities were rounding up people and forcing them to leave.

According to officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees Affairs, people evicted from Tanzania are temporarily put in Kigera and Gihura transit facilities in Kihere District and later relocated to Rukara Camp in Kayonza District.

“Since Saturday, most of the arrivals are being brought by the Tanzanian police. Since this practice started last month, hundreds have registered complaints with us about their abandoned and confiscated property,” said Gonzague Karagire, who heads the transit camps.

At least 2,000 heads of cattle have crossed into Rwanda from Tanzania since the evictions started.

Most of the evictees are from the Kagera Region in the north-western swathes of East Africa’s largest nation.

Contact email: edwin.musoni[at]newtimes.co.rw

Things don't add up with the stories here,how can a guy claiming to own tens of cows go a few kilometers away in search of milk??
Whats the use of the cows he keeps?

 

[Sangarara]

Kwani ulikuwa hujui kuwa wema una mwisho? Rudi kwenu Rwanda ukajenge nchi yako acha kutafuta huruma ya watanzania.

Huo wema Ulitangazwa lini? Mtandao mzima wa ulinzi na usalama katika nchi hii ni mbovu tena ni mbovu kuliko hata congo.ni mtandao unaonuka rushwa,uzembe,ujinga,uhovyo na ushenzi mtupu,nchi hii sasa unaziweka nchi zote majirani na tishio la madawa ya kulevya,alafu unaambia watu waende kujenga nchi zao,hapa kimejengeka nini? Nini kimejengeka hapa?

Sasa tunajivua nguo,ni nchi ya watu waoga,wabinafsi,na wasiojua thamani wala misingi ya utu.

 

[masopakyindi]

Huo wema Ulitangazwa lini? Mtandao mzima wa ulinzi na usalama katika nchi hii ni mbovu tena ni mbovu kuliko hata congo.ni mtandao unaonuka rushwa,uzembe,ujinga,uhovyo na ushenzi mtupu,nchi hii sasa unaziweka nchi zote majirani na tishio la madawa ya kulevya,alafu unaambia watu waende kujenga nchi zao,hapa kimejengeka nini? Nini kimejengeka hapa?

Sasa tunajivua nguo,ni nchi ya watu waoga,wabinafsi,na wasiojua thamani wala misingi ya utu.

Mkuu unaongea toka mpakani au vipi, endelea ma safari na ukipapenda Tz njoo uombe uraia, bado ruksa.

 

[figganigga]

Huwa nashindwa kuelewa, kwa nini hawa jamaa hawataki kurudi kwao???

Wengi ni wanajeshi waliokuwa wanapambana na kagame. So wakirudishwa watakamatwa kilahisi. Hapa kagame anashukuru Mungu atapata wabaya wake walio jificha.. Mia

 

[masopakyindi]

Things don't add up with the stories here,how can a guy claiming to own tens of cows go a few kilometers away in search of milk??
Whats the use of the cows he keeps?

Mkuu kila mtu anajua kuwa stori hizi toka Kigali zinatungwa na idara ya genociders kutafuta public sympathy na kuwabrainwash wanyarwanda wasiiamke.

 

[Egwugu]

Hii ihamie na pale lumumba mtaa wa radio uhuru kuja k.koo kuna jamhuri ya watu wa somalia wamefanya kama mogadishu pale,kuna siku nilipita pale nilihisi niko somali land.

 

[demulikuy]

Tatizo kubwa la Wanyarwanda walisahau kwamba wamekaa kwenye nyumba ya kioo hivyo hawaruhusiwi kurusha mawe. Wameanza wao kurusha mawe kwa watanzania kwa kuwatukana matusi ya nguoni na aliyefanya hivyo ni kiongozi wao na wote wakashangilia sana, wakasahau fadhila waliyopewa. Kama hiyo haitoshi, wakajiunga na wakorofi wengine eti kuitenga Tanzania kwenye jumuiya ya EAC na kusitisha matumizi ya bandari ya DSM wakifikiri wanawakomoa WATZ. Leo mnakuja na story kibao ukweli unabaki pale pale wewe ni mhamiaji haramu haijalishi umekaa hapa miaka mingapi na umefanya nini. Zaidi ya yote, walipewa muda wa kuondoka kwa hiari sasa wao walitegemea nini? Kuwa na cheti cha kuzaliwa Tanzania haimaanishi wewe ni mtanzania, bali ni asili ya wazazi wako. Tanzania mnaichezea sana mara Malawi wanataka ziwa nyasa lote liwe lao na wako tayari eti hata kwa vita. Haya sasa wanyasa wote haramu kwenu, wanyarwanda wote haramu kwenu, wakenya na waganda wote haramu kwenu. Hivi nyie hamjui kwamba Tanzania haina cha kupoteza. Embu na nyie wafukuzeni wahamiaji haramu watanzania kwenye nchi zenu muone kama wapo au wanazidi hata 10. Mmerusha mawe hali mnakaa kwenye nyumba ya kioo sasa tanzania imegusa tu hicho kimoja cha wahamiaji haramu ambacho kimsingi ni haki kama nchi kelele chungu mbovu. Mara mnataka bunge la EAC lisikutane Arusha tu hali kwamba pale Arusha ndipo kwenye ukumbi maalum uliojengwa wa bunge hilo. Kwa kuonyesha jeuri yenu mkaungana wote mkatoka nje mkimshinikiza spika w abunge la EAC akubali ajend ayenu na mkawaacha ukumbini watanzania wanashangaa. Hatimaye ajend ayenu ikapita mkifikiri mnaikomoa Tanzania hali ni kuzidi kuongeza gharama zisizo za lazima kwa jumuiya. Ni wakati umefika sasa kila mtu kwao. Huo ndio ukweli wenyewe. KAMA NI EAC KUVUNJIKA ACHA IVUNJIKE TANZANIA ITAENDELEA KUWEPO DAIMA DUMU. TUONE SASA MKIANZA KUPIGANA MTAKIMBILIA WAPI?

Mbombo ngafu! Umemaliza na umeua kabisaa, sina ch kuongeza.

 

[masopakyindi]

Tatizo kubwa la Wanyarwanda walisahau kwamba wamekaa kwenye nyumba ya kioo hivyo hawaruhusiwi kurusha mawe. Wameanza wao kurusha mawe kwa watanzania kwa kuwatukana matusi ya nguoni na aliyefanya hivyo ni kiongozi wao na wote wakashangilia sana, wakasahau fadhila waliyopewa. Kama hiyo haitoshi, wakajiunga na wakorofi wengine eti kuitenga Tanzania kwenye jumuiya ya EAC na kusitisha matumizi ya bandari ya DSM wakifikiri wanawakomoa WATZ. Leo mnakuja na story kibao ukweli unabaki pale pale wewe ni mhamiaji haramu haijalishi umekaa hapa miaka mingapi na umefanya nini. Zaidi ya yote, walipewa muda wa kuondoka kwa hiari sasa wao walitegemea nini? Kuwa na cheti cha kuzaliwa Tanzania haimaanishi wewe ni mtanzania, bali ni asili ya wazazi wako. Tanzania mnaichezea sana mara Malawi wanataka ziwa nyasa lote liwe lao na wako tayari eti hata kwa vita. Haya sasa wanyasa wote haramu kwenu, wanyarwanda wote haramu kwenu, wakenya na waganda wote haramu kwenu. Hivi nyie hamjui kwamba Tanzania haina cha kupoteza. Embu na nyie wafukuzeni wahamiaji haramu watanzania kwenye nchi zenu muone kama wapo au wanazidi hata 10. Mmerusha mawe hali mnakaa kwenye nyumba ya kioo sasa tanzania imegusa tu hicho kimoja cha wahamiaji haramu ambacho kimsingi ni haki kama nchi kelele chungu mbovu. Mara mnataka bunge la EAC lisikutane Arusha tu hali kwamba pale Arusha ndipo kwenye ukumbi maalum uliojengwa wa bunge hilo. Kwa kuonyesha jeuri yenu mkaungana wote mkatoka nje mkimshinikiza spika w abunge la EAC akubali ajend ayenu na mkawaacha ukumbini watanzania wanashangaa. Hatimaye ajend ayenu ikapita mkifikiri mnaikomoa Tanzania hali ni kuzidi kuongeza gharama zisizo za lazima kwa jumuiya. Ni wakati umefika sasa kila mtu kwao. Huo ndio ukweli wenyewe. KAMA NI EAC KUVUNJIKA ACHA IVUNJIKE TANZANIA ITAENDELEA KUWEPO DAIMA DUMU. TUONE SASA MKIANZA KUPIGANA MTAKIMBILIA WAPI?

Swafi kabisa nkamu!
Wengi wetu ni kama tulipigwa teke la tumboni Rwanda ilipoingia EAC.
Wanyarwanda popote walipo ni matatizo matupu!

 

[papason]

Frankly speaking, hii operation imejaa uonevu na rushwa ya kila aina na imegeuka kuwa deal kwa 'wajanja wachache' !

 

[kiwososa]

its no ways Rwandese just go back to where you belong after all you claims Rwanda is better than Tanzania so why should you act like ticks here and try sympathize?!!!! just go home you hypocrites

 

[kiwososa]

its no ways Rwandese just go back to where you belong after all you claims Rwanda is better than Tanzania so why should you act like ticks here and try to sympathize?!!!! just go home you hypocrites

 

[tonge nyama]

Huo wema Ulitangazwa lini? Mtandao mzima wa ulinzi na usalama katika nchi hii ni mbovu tena ni mbovu kuliko hata congo.ni mtandao unaonuka rushwa,uzembe,ujinga,uhovyo na ushenzi mtupu,nchi hii sasa unaziweka nchi zote majirani na tishio la madawa ya kulevya,alafu unaambia watu waende kujenga nchi zao,hapa kimejengeka nini? Nini kimejengeka hapa?

Sasa tunajivua nguo,ni nchi ya watu waoga,wabinafsi,na wasiojua thamani wala misingi ya utu.

Yaani hapa ndio mnaponichosha enyi wahamiaji kharam. Sawa nchi yetu mbaya inanuka, chafu, madawa ya kulevya, rushwa na mambo yote ya ajabu. Sasa si muondoke mrundi kwenu kuzuri?? Toookaaa bwanaaaaaa hatukutakiiii....

 

[Ntemi Kazwile]

I now hate Rwandese, they have lived in our country freely, used our country as their safe base for their country, used our country as the grazing ground for their heads of cattle and for all this they are now writing stories to show the world that Tanzanians are criminals who beat and take others property by force! How about those Rwandese who patrol and torture Tanzanians traveling between Kigoma/Kagera and the rest of the country!
Na mtakoma

 

[Niwemugizi]

Umekua unajitambulisha kama mtu toka Kagera,lakini chuki uliyo nayo dhidi ya Watutsi nina mashaka makubwa kama kweli wewe ni Mhaya,Mnyambo,Mhangaza ama Msubi toka Kagera! Kwasababu sisi hatuko hivyo. Hawa ni majirani zetu,tumeishi nao kwa amani kwa kiwango kikubwa. Jina lako Niwemugizi ni zuri sana,lakini msimamo wako ni wale wanamgambo wa Interehamwe!

Hivi ndugu timbilimu, unaweza ukanipa jibu la swali hili "Is the glass half-full or half-empty".Ukinipa jibu ntarudi sasa kukufahamisha vizuri sana maana wewe unaonekana hujitambui

 

[Easy E]

Da watu weusi tunashida! ndo manaa dada zetu wanajichubua!
operation inahusu uhamiaji haramu ila comments za kibaguziiii!!!

 

[Magurudumu]

Huo wema Ulitangazwa lini? Mtandao mzima wa ulinzi na usalama katika nchi hii ni mbovu tena ni mbovu kuliko hata congo.ni mtandao unaonuka rushwa,uzembe,ujinga,uhovyo na ushenzi mtupu,nchi hii sasa unaziweka nchi zote majirani na tishio la madawa ya kulevya,alafu unaambia watu waende kujenga nchi zao,hapa kimejengeka nini? Nini kimejengeka hapa?

Sasa tunajivua nguo,ni nchi ya watu waoga,wabinafsi,na wasiojua thamani wala misingi ya utu.

Sasa kama nchi hii ina sifa mbaya kama ulizotaja, mimi si ndio maana nawashauri wageni wote warudi kwao wakajenge nchi zao zilizo nzuri? Hata wewe kama ni mgeni kutoka nchi jirani nakushauri urudi kwenu uachane na nchi yetu mbaya. Hayo uliyosema yana ukweli lakini haimaanishi nchi iwe shamba la bibi.

 

[Sangarara]

Sasa kama nchi hii ina sifa mbaya kama ulizotaja, mimi si ndio maana nawashauri wageni wote warudi kwao wakajenge nchi zao zilizo nzuri? Hata wewe kama ni mgeni kutoka nchi jirani nakushauri urudi kwenu uachane na nchi yetu mbaya. Hayo uliyosema yana ukweli lakini haimaanishi nchi iwe shamba la bibi.

Imekuwaje mpaka kufikia kuiita hii nchi ni shamba la bibi? kufuata mkumbo bila kupima uhalari na mantiki ya maamuzi ya viongozi ndio kinachopelekea watu kama nyie kukubaliana na kila kitu. Ukae ukijua hapa unaharalisha maamuzi kandimizi dhidi ya raia pia kwa sababu viongozi wanakawaida ya kunogewa.

Miaka michache iliyopita, Serikali hii hii chini ya uongozi wa Bwana Mkapa ilitaka kumfukuza Generali Ulimwengu sababu haiukufurahishwa na misimamo yake dhidi serikali, Mahakama ikaivua nguo.

Hata leo, Maamuzi haya hayana mantiki na sio harali, wote tunajua maamuzi haya ni reaction dhidi ya matamshi ya Kagame, serikali ama Jakaya i/anatikiwa kujibu matamshi hayo sio kukimbilia kufukuza watu.

 

[Magurudumu]

Imekuwaje mpaka kufikia kuiita hii nchi ni shamba la bibi? kufuata mkumbo bila kupima uhalari na mantiki ya maamuzi ya viongozi ndio kinachopelekea watu kama nyie kukubaliana na kila kitu. Ukae ukijua hapa unaharalisha maamuzi kandimizi dhidi ya raia pia kwa sababu viongozi wanakawaida ya kunogewa.

Miaka michache iliyopita, Serikali hii hii chini ya uongozi wa Bwana Mkapa ilitaka kumfukuza Generali Ulimwengu sababu haiukufurahishwa na misimamo yake dhidi serikali, Mahakama ikaivua nguo.

Hata leo, Maamuzi haya hayana mantiki na sio harali, wote tunajua maamuzi haya ni reaction dhidi ya matamshi ya Kagame, serikali ama Jakaya i/anatikiwa kujibu matamshi hayo sio kukimbilia kufukuza watu.

Kwa hiyo unataka kuniambia kuhamia nchi za watu bila kufuata taratibu ni halali? Nenda basi uhamie hizo nchi ulizoziita nzuri bila kufuaa taratibu. Kwa nini basi uko Tz kama nchi ni mbaya. Naunga mkono wahamiaji haramu kurudishwa kwao. Madhara ya hao jamaa ni makubwa kwani hata kule DRC kulikuwa si kwao lakini kidogokidogo wakakaa wakaanza kujiita ni wakongo. Lakini nimekupa ushauri mzuri tu kama na wewe ni mgeni haramu, rudi kwenu kuzuri. Tuanchie nchi yetu mbaya. Nchi za EAC (including burundi, ruanda na kenya si majirani wazuri hata kidogo. Mbona hujasikia tukiwalalamikia nchi za kusini kama msumbiji, malawi na zambia? Issue si Kagame. Watanzania wenyewe walioishi na hao jamaa wanawalalamikia kuwa si majirani wazuri na lazima raisi awasikilize. Rafiki zangu wa bukoba wote wanawalalamikia wanyarwanda. Alaaa! yaani wewe nikukaribishe halafu utake kuninyanyasa na nyumbani kwangu? Hilo halikubaliki hata kidogo.