Dar, Maputo meet over deportations

What you need to know:

A Mozambique deputy minister has said that his country would not allow deportation of Tanzanians who were living legally

Dar es Salaam. Diplomatic consultations have already started between Tanzania and Mozambique over the latter’s move to deport Tanzanians on grounds that they were illegal immigrants.

Mozambique Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr Patricio Jose, has said that his country would not allow deportation of Tanzanians who were living in the country legally.

Mr Jose, who attended the Southern Africa Development Community Meeting on Inter-State Politics and Diplomacy said that ongoing diplomatic consultations between the two countries were underway to ensure that the situation was handled properly to minimise harm for both sides.

He said that the two governments would clarify all media reports in one week time after the engagement of foreign affairs ministers. Mr Jose, however, could not comment whether the crackdown targets all foreign citizens living illegally in their country, noting that the matter would be clarified as well.

“The diplomatic talks are going on right now to arrange for further discussions come next week where the ministers from the two countries will engage as well,” said Mr Jose.

“We will resolve this is a good way,” he said. Reports said, as of yesterday at least 5,000 Tanzanians have been deported to Tanzania and preparations to take them to their home regions are underway.

On Thursday, Foreign Affairs and East Africa Cooperation Minister Augustine Mahiga said that what was going on in Mozambique “is not odd since such crackdowns targeting illegal immigrants are also conducted even here in Tanzania.”