Tanzania: Controversy as two students held over citizenship

Published: 24/Mar/2019
Source: The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

By Peter Saramba and Phinias Bashaya

Mwanza/Bukoba. One of the students arrested in the country for allegedly benefiting from loans offered by the Higher Students Loans Board (HESLB) despite being a foreign national has said she always regarded herself as a Tanzanian.

Peace, who studies at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), and her brother, Tumaini Francis, who is at the Mwenge Catholic University (MWECAU), were arrested by Immigration officials in Kagera Region.

Their arrest came after an investigation revealed that they had secured loans issued by HESLB while they are not bona fide citizens of Tanzania.

When Interrogated by Immigration officials in Kagera Region, Peace said after the opportunity of joining higher education presented itself, she filled in a form for a loan and that she was never told that she had no merit of benefiting from HESLB loans.

“I filled in HESLB forms, and I had never been told that I was not entitled to the loans,” said Peace.

Read further: https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Controversy-as-two-students-held-over-citizenship-/1840340-5039536-12i68yoz/index.html

Themes: Acquisition by children, Identity Documents, Loss and Deprivation of Nationality
Regions: Tanzania
Year: 2019