LAW enforcers at the Immigration Department need to intensify efforts to curb illegal immigration to ensure the country remains safe while pursuing its developmental trajectory.

Dr. Tulia Ackson, the speaker of the National Assembly, issued this appeal here over the weekend, at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Central District Immigration Office in Unguja South Region.

In the event tied to marking 61 years of the Zanzibar Revolution, the top legislator said that accommodating individuals who enter the country illegally jeopardises national peace and security.

It exposes the nation to potential criminal activities and eventual unrest, she stated, affirming that no country can progress without peace. 

“Peace is the foundation of development in any nation. Without peace and security, there is no development,” she stated, appealiong to residents to avoid hosting unfamiliar visitors.

They should report their presence for proper management of such instances in the interest of the nation, she said, asking members of the public to collaborate with the Immigration Department.

This wull help it to pursue efforts to fight human trafficking, she said, pointing at the need to free themselves relics of the historical plight of slavery.

“The goal of the Revolution was to reject oppression and establish freedom and equality without discrimination, while restoring dignity to Zanzibaris. Allowing human trafficking would mean living under the very conditions that our revolutionaries fought to abolish in 1964,” the top legislator declared.

Immigration officers need to educate the public on safeguarding national borders, she said, pointing at fishermen as a pivotal group that can help to enhance security in areas prone to illegal entry and trafficking.

Additionally, she urged project supervisors to maintain the pace of construction while ensuring the quality of the buildings for national benefit.

Dr. Anna Makakala, the commissioner general of Immigration, noted that the completion of the building stands to enhance security in the district and improve access to immigration services in the zone.

She expresed gtratitude to Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi for allocating land for various immigration projects. Zanzibar is in the process of establishing an immigration training college in the region, she added.