(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 June 2003, one day after his passport was confiscated, Ali Nabwa reached an agreement with the Immigration Department on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar. Nabwa, editor of the weekly independent newspaper “Dira”, agreed to surrender his Tanzanian citizenship and reapply for it as the Immigration Department had demanded in March. “We […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 June 2003, one day after his passport was confiscated, Ali Nabwa reached an agreement with the Immigration Department on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar. Nabwa, editor of the weekly independent newspaper “Dira”, agreed to surrender his Tanzanian citizenship and reapply for it as the Immigration Department had demanded in March.
“We have agreed to settle our differences. They were committed to resolve this issue and I have accepted their directives,” Nabwa told MISA-Tanzania on 25 June at 5:00 p.m. (local time).
According to Nabwa, the Immigration Department recognizes his Tanzanian citizenship. The department’s only concern is that he also possesses a Republic of the Comoros passport, which conflicts with his Tanzanian citizenship. He therefore needs to surrender his citizenship and reapply for it.
He said he has been allowed to continue working while the government processes a three-month temporary passport and work permit.
“These two documents will allow me to continue with my business before reapplying for citizenship on 2 July 2003,” he said.
Nabwa added that he is required by law to pay the Immigration Department a US$400 fee to reapply for his citizenship.