The government yesterday said it was feeling the pinch caused by the burden of helping Burundians fleeing their country.
Tanzania and other neighbouring countries are hosting thousands of
Burundians who have fled their country and now the government calls upon
Burundias to make peace central in their discussion to solve the
ongoing crisis.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard
Membe told Parliament yesterday communities on the border with Burundi,
where refugees have settled are reporting damage in schools and farms.
“Peace in Burundi means peace in Tanzania and it is only Burundians
who can take that big initiative to build lasting peace. We urge them
to do so for the good of other countries,” he said.
After the conflict that started on May 6, followed by a coup
attempt few days later, some 150,000 refugees went to Rwanda as other
51,000 flocked to Tanzania.
He said a meeting for heads of State of East Africa Community (EAC)
scheduled for tomorrow in Dar es Salaam, will discuss how best to end
conflict in Burundi, noting that the scheduled election be postponed.
The minister was responding to a supplementary question by Special
Seats MP Mary Mwanjelwa (CCM) who wanted a government statement on
damages caused to Tanzania by Burundian refugees. Earlier, in the main
question, Special Seats MP, Amina Abdallah Amour (CUF), asked the
government to state both political and economic benefits of US President
Barack Obama’s visit to Tanzania in 2013.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,
Mahadhi Juma Maalim told the House that the visit enhanced relations
between Tanzania and the international community.
Besides strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries, the
visit came along with economic benefits. The US President announced a
mega power project, Power Africa Initiative, with a promise to inject $ 7
billion and the US investors set aside $ 9 billion for the same.
On the fight against poaching, the minister added that US
government donated equipment and capacity building training to Tanzanian
officials.
At least ten Tanzania officers attended a rural regional border
patrol held in Nairobi in the 2013/2014 while five others attended
wildlife investigation training in Botswana.
The training sessions were sponsored by the US government.
He stated that in March this year, 43 wildlife officers at the
Selous Game Reserve attended counter illicit trafficking training.
At the same time the department received 25 big and 545 medium size tents worth $230,000, given to the reserve.
Maalim added that in March, this year, US donated 2.5 million books
worth $5.5 million which helped reduce shortage of science text books
in the country.
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