Tanzania: Freedom of movement of citizens and whether written permission must be obtained in order to relocate within Tanzania and requirements for obtaining the same
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TZA31940.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Tanzania: Freedom of movement of citizens and whether written permission must be obtained in order to relocate within Tanzania and requirements for obtaining the same, 1 May 1999, TZA31940.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac9074.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Country Reports 1998,
The Government imposes some limits on these rights. Short-term domestic travel is not restricted, but citizens must follow national employment directives stipulating the nature of employment and location of the residence. The Human Resources Deployment Act of 1983 requires local governments to ensure that every resident within their area of jurisdiction engages in productive and lawful employment. Those not employed are subject to transfer to another area where employment is available. These laws, although enforced neither generally or rigorously, are used by police as a means of soliciting bribes and intimidating urban residents. The Dar Es Salaam City Council rounds up beggars for return to their home areas, but many return to the capital...
Main landers are required to show identification to travel to Zanzibar; although Zanzibaris need no special identification to travel to the mainland. Under Zanzibar law, only persons born on the islands are allowed to own land there. Mainlanders are permitted to work in Zanzibar (1999).
An assistant professor of anthropology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, who specializes in gender issues in Tanzania, and has conducted field research on gender issues in Tanzania on a regular base since 1985, corroborated the above information during a telephone interview with the Research Directorate (12 May 1999). She stated that moving from one area to another can be "problematic" as those wishing to do have to get written permission from the district officials of the locality to which they are moving as well as the permission of the local village council in their locality.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Assistant professor of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Jersey. 12 May 1999. Telephone interview.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 1999. [Internet:]
Unsuccessful attempts to reach oral sources.
