Politician wants mainland Tanzanians to use passports to enter Zanzibar

Dar es Salaam. Just two days before Tanzania celebrates 60 years of unification between Tanganyika and Zanzibar to form a United Republic, a parliamentarian from the islands has started a debate that threatens the Union.

Konde Constituency Member of Parliament Mohammed Said Issa has sparked debate on both sides of the Union by suggesting that the government reinstate the use of passports for mainland Tanzanians crossing into Zanzibar.

The Immigration Act 1972, which required passports for this purpose, was repealed in July 1995. Currently, only foreign nationals are required to present their passports at entry points into Zanzibar, such as airports and seaports.

Issa, without providing supporting figures, argued that this measure is necessary to protect the islands of Zanzibar by managing the influx of people, which has reached a point where housing is becoming scarce.

He spoke during a parliamentary session in Dodoma while contributing to the income and expenditure estimates of the Office of the Vice President of the Union and Environment, where he stressed that Zanzibar is a small place and therefore must be protected.

“I don’t agree with the issue of not protecting the islands now. Zanzibar has become overcrowded and as we move forward people will lack places to live. I congratulate Karume for building those long buildings because he wanted everyone to live because Zanzibar It is very small. That is why I am in favor of those who cross using a passport,” he said.

However, the MP did not clarify whether this planned requirement should apply to Zanzibarians crossing to mainland Tanzania or if all those crossing to Zanzibar are going there in search of settlements.

The MP’s statement has angered citizens on social media, where some have referred to Mr Issa’s statements as reckless and short-sighted.

“I’m not sure if this is what Konde’s people sent that MP to do in Parliament, he would rather be rambling on about serious issues affecting his people,” Omar Said wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Another social media user said the parliamentarian’s statement was counterproductive in many ways as it would further complicate relations between the two parties.

“Everything indicates that the deputy does not see certain things in a broader picture. The real reason the two nations came together was to facilitate the movement of people; Now, with your desire to reinstate a requirement that was repealed almost three decades ago, you would be taking several steps back,” Anthony Mushi wrote.

Another Facebook user who identified herself as Amina Ali from Mombasa area, Unguja, said the minister should have been debating on fundamental issues affecting the union instead of indulging in petty issues that have no place in today’s world.

“I thought that this whole issue was solved with the issuance of the national identity document; “We should focus on issues that unite us instead of these separatist sentiments,” he wrote.

For his part, the Minister responsible for Union Affairs, Dr Selemani Jafo, said the proposal to reintroduce the requirement for mainland Tanzanians to enter Zanzibar with a passport is regressive.

“My brother, when he mentioned why people shouldn’t enter Zanzibar with a passport, I said, ah, brother, that’s a good idea, but you want to push us back.”

“In this process, during the second phase of government under the late Mzee Mwinyi (Ali Hassan Mwinyi) and Zanzibar under President Dr Salmin Amour, this issue was discussed and considered an inconvenience,” Dr Jafo said.

Dr Jafo echoed the view that this goes against the original intentions of the Tanganyika-Zanzibar Union established 60 years ago.