Majaliwa cautions Burundi refugees against smuggling weapons

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has warned refugees

who are arriving from Burundi not to come with

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has warned refugees

who are arriving from Burundi not to come with

firearms as they will not be allowed to enter refugee

camps

Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Kassim
Majaliwa has warned refugees who are
arriving from Burundi not to come with
firearms as they will not be allowed to enter
refugee camps.

The Prime Minister, who is in Kigoma, made
the call yesterday when he was speaking to
hundreds of refugees who are living in
Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee’ camps which
are located in Kasulu and Kibondo
respectively.

“I just want to remind you that you have come
from DRC and Burundi due to insecurity... you
shouldn’t bring firearms because we want you
to live peacefully,” said the PM in a statement
sent to the media.

Mr Majaliwa urged the refugees to report to
the authorities people who will enter the
country with firearms. According to him, it is
important for the refugee camps to remain
calm to enable authorities to provide services
to them.

He also called on the refugees to adhere to the
rules of the country which do not allow them
to go out of their camps.
The PM also asked the refugees to abstain
from unsafe sex which might lead to HIV/Aids
spread in the camps.

“I have visited your hospital and I was told
that HIV/Aids transmission rates have
increased from one per cent to two per cent
among those who were tested,” said Mr
Majaliwa.

Earlier on, the head of Nyarugusu refugee
camp, Mr Sospeter Boyo, told the Prime
Minister that the number of refugees at the
camp had exceeded the capacity.

According to Mr Boyo, currently there are
151,032 refugees at the camp which has the
capacity to accommodate 50,000 refugees.
Mr Boyo said the camp experiences other
challenges like shortage of water, lack of
sufficient healthcare services as well as
environment pollution due to the large
number of people.

Mr Majaliwa was expected to tour Ntabila
National Service camp before winding his tour
of the region today.