Tanzanian Authorities Seize MP’s Luxury Vehicle Used for Smuggling Ethiopian Immigrants

By Adonis Byemelwa

In a recent development, Tanzanian authorities intercepted a luxury vehicle allegedly owned by a Member of Parliament, apprehending seven illegal immigrants from Ethiopia. The incident occurred at a hotel in Himo, along the Moshi-Dar es Salaam highway.

 The legislator was not present during the seizure. Investigations are ongoing, shedding light on the challenges of irregular migration and the need for strengthened border security.

A surge in the use of luxury vehicles for smuggling illegal immigrants from Ethiopia has been observed in Tanzania, with recent reports indicating the apprehension of seven illegal immigrants in a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 purportedly owned by a Member of Parliament.

The vehicle was intercepted yesterday at 2:00 am at a hotel located at the crossroads of Himo, along the Moshi-Dar es Salaam highway in the Moshi District of Kilimanjaro region. Surprisingly, the MP was not present in the vehicle at the time of the seizure.

Confirming the incident, Kilimanjaro Regional Immigration Commander Fakih Nyakunga acknowledged the occurrence but requested time until Wednesday to gather comprehensive information before making detailed comments.

Efforts to reach Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Maigwa were fruitless, with his responses indicating his involvement in the convoy of CCM Secretary-General Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi.

Sources from the scene disclosed that the illegal Ethiopian immigrants were apprehended outside the hotel, where seven were found inside the vehicle. The hotel is equipped with CCTV cameras, which capture the driver's activities and aid law enforcement in their swift response.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the vehicle is owned by a Member of Parliament, whose identity is currently withheld. However, the driver fled the scene shortly after the interception, prompting further inquiries into the ownership and purpose of the vehicle's use in human trafficking.

As Tanzania grapples with a rising influx of Ethiopian immigrants, the government is taking proactive steps to address the issue. Home Affairs Minister Hamad Masauni has announced plans to implement a visa-on-arrival arrangement for Ethiopian nationals, aiming to stem the tide of illegal immigration from the Horn of Africa.

This decision comes amidst ongoing challenges stemming from political instability, ethnic conflicts, and economic disparities in Ethiopia, factors that drive mass migration.

The situation surrounding the seizure of a Toyota Landcruiser V8, alleged to belong to a Member of Parliament and used to transport seven illegal Ethiopian immigrants, has taken a new turn after the Kilimanjaro Immigration Department claimed they have been unable to identify the owner.

Despite more than 24 hours passing without the department identifying the owner, a Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) employee informed Pan-African Visions that identifying the vehicle’s owner through the system takes less than two minutes.

Pan-African Visions made efforts to reach the Member of Parliament, who had been in Kilimanjaro for family matters since the previous week, by calling him, but he did not answer. When a text message was sent, he read it but did not respond.

Although the Immigration Department stated that they are continuing their investigation to identify the vehicle's owner, Pan-African Visions’ investigation has revealed three names matching exactly with those of a Member of Parliament of the National Assembly.

 While insurance records show the name of the vehicle’s owner, those three names match exactly with the names of a Member of Parliament listed on the Parliament’s website. The MP in question was not in the vehicle at the time it was seized.

When reached for comment, Zablon Walwa, the Assistant Taxpayer Service Manager of TRA in Kilimanjaro Region, stated that according to the law, they are not authorized to disclose taxpayer information to anyone other than the taxpayer themselves or authorized authorities.

"To obtain ownership information of someone’s vehicle, that is tax information, which by law, we are not authorized to share with others, except the taxpayer or authorized authorities," he said.

Speaking to Pan-African Visions today, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Walwa mentioned that such authorities include the Police and the Court, but they too must make written requests to obtain such information.

Speaking yesterday, Kilimanjaro Region Immigration Officer Fakih Nyakunga described the arrest of the immigrants in the vehicle and said they are continuing their investigation and have not yet identified the vehicle's owner.

"Yesterday (June 4, 2024), while performing our duties in the Himo area, we arrested seven Ethiopian nationals heading to South Africa. We are continuing the investigation and will later take them to court," Nyakunga said, adding:

 "We are still investigating to identify the vehicle's owner, as the driver fled. According to national laws, if the vehicle is found to be used for transporting illegal immigrants, it will be confiscated and become government property."

Nyakunga urged citizens to stop engaging in the business of transporting illegal immigrants, stating that vehicles found transporting them and houses used to hide them will be confiscated.

"Additionally, anyone caught engaging in the business of transporting illegal immigrants could face 20 years in prison or a fine of 20 million Shillings, or both, if convicted, so let’s avoid this business."

Nyakunga called on village and local leaders living near border areas and towns to identify houses that are not inhabited as they are used as hideouts for illegal immigrants.

"I also urge passenger vehicle drivers, who sometimes transport illegal immigrants, and food vendors, who sometimes bring them food, to stop immediately or report to authorities," he said.

On his part, Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Maigwa, when asked about the incident, responded briefly, “It is true we arrested illegal immigrants, but we handed them over to immigration. Contact immigration for more details.”

According to various sources, the immigrants were arrested on June 4, 2024, between 1:30 AM and 2:30 AM in the parking area of a hotel at Njiapanda, Moshi-Dar es Salaam Road, although the driver managed to escape.

In a troubling trend, Tanzania has seen a rise in the use of luxury vehicles to smuggle illegal immigrants from Ethiopia. Recently, a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 carrying seven Ethiopian immigrants was intercepted at a hotel in Himo, along the Moshi-Dar es Salaam highway.

 The vehicle, purportedly owned by a Member of Parliament (MP), was found without the MP present. The driver escaped on a motorcycle, taking the keys with him. This incident is part of a larger pattern of illegal immigration routes through Tanzania.

Investigations by Pan-African Visions have revealed three primary smuggling routes: from Njiapanda ya Himo or Chekereni to Morogoro, Iringa, and Mbeya, reaching Tunduma; from Njiapanda ya Himo to Muheza via the Moshi-Dar es Salaam main road, then Morogoro to Mbeya; and via the Nyumba ya Mungu Dam Road.

In another recent event, on March 25, 2024, a vehicle of the same model was seized at a checkpoint in Minjingu, Babati District, transporting 20 illegal Ethiopian immigrants. The driver used a CCM flag to deceive the police, falsely suggesting the vehicle belonged to a CCM leader. However, security investigations revealed the vehicle did not belong to CCM but to a resident of Dodoma.

On April 9, 2024, Manyara Regional Police seized another luxury vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser VXR V8 with government number plates, carrying 17 illegal Ethiopian immigrants. The vehicle, found in Kiongozi Village, Babati District, had different private registration numbers, a tactic to evade police detection.

The use of luxury vehicles for human smuggling is on the rise, with recent incidents underscoring the need for enhanced border security. Kilimanjaro Regional Immigration Commander Fakih Nyakunga confirmed the Himo hotel incident, noting ongoing investigations to gather comprehensive details.

The Tanzanian government, recognizing the urgency of addressing illegal immigration, is implementing measures such as a visa-on-arrival arrangement for Ethiopian nationals. This initiative, announced by Home Affairs Minister Hamad Masauni, aims to curb illegal immigration by providing a legal entry route for Ethiopians.

As the country grapples with a rising influx of Ethiopian immigrants, the government is taking proactive steps to address the issue. Home Affairs Minister Hamad Masauni has announced plans to implement a visa-on-arrival arrangement for Ethiopian nationals, aiming to stem the tide of illegal immigration from the Horn of Africa.

This decision comes amidst ongoing challenges stemming from political instability, ethnic conflicts, and economic disparities in Ethiopia, factors that drive mass migration.

Masauni unveiled the initiative while presenting his ministry’s 2022/2023 financial year budget, emphasizing the paramount importance of ensuring compliance with Tanzanian laws and regulations for all individuals entering the country. The move underscores the government's commitment to maintaining border security while addressing the complex realities of irregular migration.