TANZANIA: DIASPORA POLICY NEARS COMPLETION - MIZENGO PINDA

Premier Mizengo Pinda in a group photograph with Tanzanian's living in London

London — PREPARATIONS for the establishment of a policy on Tanzanians living in the Diaspora are being finalised before it is presented to the cabinet, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has said.

Premier Pinda also hinted that plans were underway to convene a symposium for all Tanzanians living in the Diaspora to discuss their prospects and connect them to international companies and business persons.

Mr Pinda made the revelation over the weekend at the Tanzania High Commission in London during a meeting with Tanzanians living in the United Kingdom.

"Preparations of the policy involved various stakeholders since the government was keen on having wider views.

"In the initial stages, my office in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, engaged Tanzanians living in UK, USA, China, Oman, India and South Africa, among others, to get their views on the envisaged policy," he elaborated.

After collecting the views, the draft of the document was presented to local experts for more inputs, Mr Pinda stated. The experts include Prof Samuel Wangwe of the Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA), Prof Joseph Semboja of Uongozi Institute and Prof Faustine Kamuzora of Mzumbe University.

The Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has vast experience on migrants, was also approached for inputs in the draft document, according to the PM. "In my view, the draft is in good shape as we have tried to touch all areas that are important to you.

It now awaits government procedures before it is presented to the cabinet," he told delegates at the meeting. In the same development, Mr Pinda said the government would organize a two-day symposium on August 14 and 15, this year, bringing together Tanzanians in the Diaspora, recognizing them as important players to bring development.

"The symposium is aimed at informing Tanzanians at home that they have fellow countrymen abroad who as well have a role to build our country," he said.

Mr Pinda also said that the government will conduct a survey to know the exact number of Tanzanians in the Diaspora and their areas of expertise.