Immigration officers in western Tanzania on Monday announced to have arrested more than 1,000 foreigners from different countries for unlawfully living and working in the east African nation.

Maurice Kitinusa, Kigoma Regional Immigration Officer, said illegal immigrants were arrested from April to July this year in Uvinza District and Kigoma/Ujiji Municipality as they participated in agricultural activities as labourers.

Kitinusa said these illegal immigrants, some of whom were employed by Tanzanians, were mainly from Burundi and the the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He said the Tanzanians' offense lies in providing the illegal immigrants with homes and employing them as labourers on their farms which is against immigration laws.

He said five Burundian citizens have appeared in court and 20 Burundians are still under investigation and once the investigation is completed they will appear in court. He added that there are 55 Burundians still being investigated after claiming that they are Tanzanians.

The immigration officer has urged citizens to stop the practice of keeping illegal immigrants in their homes and that whoever will be found doing so legal action will be taken against them, including prosecution.

Tanzania is the main gateway for illegal immigrants particularly for those who are on the way to South Africa to seek greener pastures.

Source : XINHUA