Recently, the East African Countries launched a Labour migration project which will allow East Africans to move freely and work in the three countries. Do you think Tanzania will benefit from the project?

NO. I think Tanzania will be the last country to benefit from that project; rather she will be on the disadvantageous side. First and foremost Kenya and Uganda are more advanced in terms of education hence will have bigger chances of dominating the labour market. The other reason is that most investors in Tanzania will probably come from the two countries so it will be a bit difficult to employ locals instead they will opt to employ people from their countries to increase funds remitted for their economic growth.
Hamisi Mwinyi – Accountant.

NO. Tanzania will not benefit from the project because it came as a surprise and it seems our colleagues in Kenya and Uganda were well prepared. This can be indicated by the so called Academies which are mushrooming in Tanzania and most of them are manned by Ugandans and Kenyans. On the other hand Ugandans and Kenyans seem more confident in their work so most investors prefer them. The other reason is that these people have for a long time accessed higher education and they have a lot of higher education institutions. Hence more graduates are produced compared to Tanzania.
Abraham Kissa – Electrician.

YES. Tanzania is going to benefit a lot from the Labour Migration project. I am saying this because, although the government has no records of Tanzanians working abroad, there are lots of Tanzanians working abroad. Also there is a big number of Tanzanians who are educated. The only way to be at par with our fellows from Kenya and Uganda is to encourage Tanzanians to have confidence in executing their cores. We are scared for nothing when we see a Kenyan or Ugandan teaching at an International school here but we have better Tanzanians than our neigbours.
Felisia Edward – Student.

NO. Tanzania will have a very narrow chance of benefiting from the labour migration project. Leaving aside the stiff labour competition that will ensure, security will be highly put in jeopardy. People will migrate from neighbouring countries with arms; these may even be from the politically troubled countries. The safe cities and towns of Tanzania will no longer be safe. Banditry will definitely rise and I am afraid to say that the peace and tranquility we have enjoyed for years will disappear.
Mwenga Ernest – Politician.

 

Compiled by Timothy Kitundu.