Illegal foreign traders told to leave Tanzania

20 Jan, 2011

The Tanzanian government has threatened the thousands of illegal foreign street traders with deportation if they do not leave Tanzania within one month. Predominantly Chinese, many of the traders can still be found openly plying their trade at the Kariakoo market in Dar es Salaam, despite the government warning.

Dar es Salaam traders have expressed fears for the local trade, as much of the merchandise sold by the foreign hawkers is mass-produced cheaply in their countries of origin.

Although most of the foreign traders claim that they entered the country with the required documents through the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), there are concerns that there may have been irregularities in the system. Deputy minister Lazaro Nyalandu from the ministry of industry, trade and marketing has promised to investigate the claims and to dismiss any official discovered to have acted inappropriately.