This is one of numerous articles I wrote for the Sunday News (Tanzania) column "Letter from Butiama" between 2005 and 2011. Publication date: 1st October 2006.
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A few years ago I posted a comment on a web
site with a forum on dual citizenship in Tanzania saying I did not see its
merits, that it will provide no significant benefits to the country, and that
the single group of beneficiaries will be those who have to pay a $US50 dollar
visa fee to travel to Tanzania.
A foreigner staying in Tanzania on a
tourist visa can pay over $US2,000 annually in visa fees. An investor pays an
average of $US800 per year for a residence permit.
I received such a lashing from someone
abroad that I refrained from making further comments against dual citizenship.
In its “Final Report on the Introduction of
Dual Citizenship” the Law Reform Commission has recommended that Tanzania amend
the current laws to permit dual citizenship.
I have not been able to obtain a copy of
that report, so some of the doubts I have about dual citizenship may have been
answered in that report.
Although I do not believe that dual
citizenship poses the national security concerns raised by some, I fail to see its
significant advantages.
The basic argument for the introduction of
dual citizenship has been economic, specifically, how much the Tanzania economy
stands to gain financially from dual citizenship. It is argued that once the
system takes off, there should be a rise in investments from former Tanzanian
nationals. I do not see how that would happen.
First, the maximum savings enjoyed by an
individual holding two passports will be $2,000 dollars each year. An investor
with two thousand dollars will be lucky to get an appointment with the Director
of Tanzanian Investment Center (TIC) where the minimum amount that qualifies a
Tanzanian investor to receive a Certificate of Investment is $US100,000 in a
new, rehabilitation, or an expansion project.
One can argue that it is easier to access
investment funds abroad, so an individual does not necessarily have to invest
from personal savings. If that is the case, it is difficult to understand how a
person with $US100,000 to invest would have a problem raising $800 annually for
his residence permit.
Anyone with that kind of money would
probably see Tanzania as one of many other investment options competing with
other investment opportunities worldwide. This talk about affection for one’s
country of birth is more theoretical than near to the truth. Patriotism is a
concept of the sixties and seventies, although I am not saying that there are
no patriotic Tanzanians today, here and abroad.
My point is that individuals who seek a
good return on their investment will not invest in Tanzania because they hold
dual nationality, but rather because, after considering the risks involved,
Tanzania provides a good return on their investment compared to other places.
Patriotism is not necessarily compatible with making money.
In fact last year I heard a Tanzania was in
Iraq seeking business opportunities. That is more characteristic of individuals
looking for a good return on their investments. No amount of citizenships would
have forced that man to invest in Tanzania.
Perhaps what should be done is that
parallel with the campaign to attract foreign investments to Tanzania there
should be a special drive to attract Tanzanians abroad to invest in Tanzania.
It is easier to attract this group than individuals who do not even know the
difference between Tanzania and Tasmania.
What can be argued in favour of dual
citizenship is that many of those abroad cannot invest large sums but, given
the possible savings from visa and residence permit fees, these individuals may
be able to set aside some money for smaller investments either for themselves
or members of their families in Tanzania. Or they could increase the amounts
remitted annually to family members in Tanzania. Though these amounts may not
produce a significant growth to the economy, they remain important to the
individual beneficiaries.
It has also been argued that Tanzania
should not be left behind because many countries have adopted the system and
many will soon. This is a weak argument. President Kikwete recently revealed in
a speech that he declined the offer from his hosts in a European country to
join them in a sauna because he felt it was not right. I do not believe he
would have changed his mind even if the entire world population went to saunas.
Let us adopt these changes if they are
right but not because everyone else is doing it. Whatever is decided, I doubt
whether the increase in foreign investments will be significant.
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2 comments:
You lack critical thinking. Your points do not make sense at all.
I offer you space on this blog to provide your side of this debate. And, if you accept the offer, perhaps you could address the specific points that I have raised. Use the comments section if you prefer to remain anonymous or email your response so I can use your response as a separate counter post.
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