DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Tuesday shut down a market used by refugees and Tanzanians at Nduta in the western region of Kigoma citing security reasons.
Majaliwa on an official visit to Kigoma region ordered the closure of the market after intelligence reports indicated that the market was a catalyst for refugees to run away from Nduta refugee camp in Kibondo district and engage in criminal acts.
"Criminal acts in Kibondo district including kidnapping of children are on the increase, wreaking havoc to residents in the area," Majaliwa said when addressing a public rally.
He also urged government and private employees overseeing refugee camps in Kigoma region to be diligent in their responsibilities.
During his official visit to Tanzania earlier this month, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, appealed to international donors to double their support to Tanzania in sheltering over 330,000 refugees.
Grandi said Tanzania was in dire need of greater investment in north-west regions where the refugees were hosted, including environmental protection and economic development.
Citing Tanzania as "one of the most important refugee asylum countries in Africa," Grandi expressed his satisfaction with government assurances that the country would continue to be hospitable to refugees.
In his meeting with President John Magufuli, Grandi commended Tanzania for its long tradition of welcoming refugees fleeing conflict and persecution in neighboring countries, including naturalizing 162,000 Burundian refugees from 1972.
