CDF's remarks on refugees in public service sparks controversy

Dar es Salaam. The Monday’s statement by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen John Mkunda that some refugees and asylum seekers were finding their way into the government signals that there was a serious problem with the hiring process of public servants, analysts claim.

Speaking during the seventh conference between the CDF and Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) commanders, Gen Mkunda said that some of the refugees have found their way into high levels of the government, and some of them have been appointed to sensitive positions.

Gen Mkunda issued the alert in front of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He said that it was risky that some refugees have been living in Tanzania for many years without proper documentation, to the point that they manage to get employed within the government.

"Tanzania has continued to receive requests from asylum seekers and those seeking refuge for many years. Most of them are from Burundi (since 1972), Rwanda (since 1994), and the DR Congo (since 1996)," he said.

From January to December 2023, Tanzania received over 138,000 asylum and refugee requests from people from neighbouring countries.

Reacting to the statement, an independent consultant and security expert, Dr Jesse Mashimi, said if refugees and asylum seekers were getting employed in the public service, including in sensitive positions, then something was seriously wrong somewhere.

“The government should evaluate its security systems and plug loopholes that have allowed that to happen for the best interest of the nation,” he said in a telephone interview.

A political science lecturer at the University of Dodoma (Udom), Dr Paul Loisulie, said security control systems at the country's borders should be enhanced to prevent foreigners from entering the country unnoticed.

He said citizens' participation in identifying newcomers arriving in their respective areas may face challenges due to a diminishing level of citizen awareness and a decline in overall patriotism.

According to him, the country has been witnessing a staggering influx of refugees due to political and economic challenges in neighbouring countries, which exerts pressure on the country’s resources.

"The government should strengthen the Ten-House Cell leadership system and tighten its borders through a modern security system,” he said.

“Investigation should be conducted to identify people who have entered the country illegally and get recruited in public service as well as holding positions in decision-making organs,” he added.

Furthermore, he said that once identified, those foreigners and Tanzanians who abetted should be equally held accountable.

In his remarks, Gen Mkunda further noted that overall, the situation was good across Tanzania’s borders, noting, however, that TPDF forces deployed in Mozambique were playing a key role in ensuring the safety and security of not only Mozambicans but also Tanzanians in the areas that share a common border with the neighbouring country.

He said the deployment of forces to fight the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—under the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC)—officially started on December 15, 2023.

“Sadc is sending a total of 3,997 troops to fight the M23 rebels in the DRC and the deployment started on December 15, 2023,” he told President Hassan.

The deployment of the SAMIDRC was approved by the extraordinary SADC summit of Heads of State and Government held in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia, on May 8, 2023, as a regional response to address the unstable and deteriorating security situation prevailing in the Eastern DRC.

Malawi, Tanzania, and South Africa are contributing to the forces that work with the DRC Armed Forces, known in French as the Forces Armees de la République Democratique du Congo (FARDC), in fighting armed groups operating in the eastern DRC.

The Force Commander for the SAMIDRC is Major General Monwabisi Dyakopu from the Republic of South Africa.